Touch input device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a touch input device including: a touch sensor including a plurality of electrodes; a drive unit configured to apply a driving signal to at least some of the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor; a touch signal detection unit configured to detect a touch-position-related signal related to a touch position of an object inputted to the touch surface from at least some of the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor; and an LGM disturbance signal detection unit configured to detect an LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal related to an LGM disturbance signal generated from the touch surface from at least some of the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2019-0154921 filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Nov. 27, 2019, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a touch input device, and moreparticularly, to a touch input device including a touch sensor capableof accurately detecting whether an inputted object touches a touchsurface and/or a touch position at which a touch is made even in asituation in which the touch input device is in a state in which thetouch input device is affected by low ground mass (LGM).

BACKGROUND ART

Various types of input devices are used to manipulate computing systems.For example, the input devices such as a button, a key, a joystick, anda touch screen are used. There is increasing use of the touch screensfor manipulating the computing systems because the touch screen is easyand convenient to manipulate.

The touch screen may constitute a touch surface of a touch input deviceincluding a touch sensor panel that may be a transparent panel having atouch-sensitive surface. The touch sensor panel is attached to a frontsurface of a display screen so that the touch-sensitive surface maycover a visible surface of the display screen. A user may manipulate thecomputing system by simply touching the touch screen with a finger orthe like. In general, the computing system recognizes a touch and atouch position on the touch screen and analyzes the touch, therebyperforming an arithmetic operation.

In a case in which a driving electrode and a receiving electrode areimplemented to have a single layer or a double layer, the touch inputdevice, such as a smartphone, mounted with the touch sensor may besometimes affected by low ground mass (LGM) when a user touches thetouch input device in a state (floating state) in which the user doesnot hold the touch input device with his/her hand. For example, asignal, which needs to be normally detected, disappears or a signal,which needs to be detected, is split, and as a result, the signalsometimes shows that two or more points are touched. Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2019-0006389 filed by the applicant of the presentapplication discloses in detail the influence of the LGM.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a touchsensor and a touch input device including the touch sensor, which arecapable of detecting a touch signal even in a state in which the touchinput device is affected by LGM, like or similar to a state in which thetouch input device is not affected by the LGM.

The present invention has also been made in an effort to provide a touchsensor and a touch input device including the touch sensor, which arecapable of recognizing two or more multiple touches even in a state inwhich the touch input device is affected by LGM.

The present invention has also been made in an effort to provide a touchsensor and a touch input device including the touch sensor, which arecapable of recognizing a third touch (3^(rd) Touch) touched togetherwith cross touches even in a state in which the touch input device isaffected by LGM.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a touch inputdevice having a touch surface, the touch input device including: a touchsensor including a plurality of electrodes; a drive unit configured toapply a driving signal to at least some of the plurality of electrodesof the touch sensor; a touch signal detection unit configured to detecta touch-position-related signal related to a touch position of an objectinputted to the touch surface from at least some of the plurality ofelectrodes of the touch sensor; and an LGM disturbance signal detectionunit configured to detect an LGM-disturbance-signal-related signalrelated to an LGM disturbance signal generated from the touch surfacefrom at least some of the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor.

The touch-position-related signal may include information about theamount of change in mutual capacitance made by the object between atleast some of the plurality of electrodes, and theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal may include information aboutcapacitance that reduces the amount of change in mutual capacitancegenerated by coupling between the object and at least some of theplurality of electrodes.

The touch-position-related signal may include information aboutcapacitance that reduces the amount of change in mutual capacitancegenerated by coupling between the object and at least some of theplurality of electrodes.

The LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal may not include informationabout the amount of change in mutual capacitance between at least someof the plurality of electrodes.

The touch input device may further include a control unit configured toinhibit the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from thetouch-position-related signal.

The touch signal detection unit may convert the touch-position-relatedsignal into a digital signal and output the digital signal, the LGMdisturbance signal detection unit may convert theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal into a digital signal and outputthe digital signal, and the control unit may inhibit theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal, which is converted into thedigital signal, from the touch-position-related signal, which isconverted into the digital signal.

The touch sensor may include a plurality of driving electrodes and aplurality of touch signal detection electrodes, the touch signaldetection unit may detect the touch-position-related signal related tothe touch position of the object inputted to the touch surface from atleast one touch signal detection electrode, among the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes, which forms mutual capacitance with atleast one of the plurality of driving electrodes, and the LGMdisturbance signal detection unit may detect theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from at least another touch signaldetection electrode, among the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes, which does not form mutual capacitance with at least onedriving electrode.

The touch-position-related signal may include information aboutcapacitance that reduces the mutual capacitance generated by at leastone of coupling between the object and at least one driving electrodeand coupling between the object and at least one touch signal detectionelectrode, and the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal may includeinformation about capacitance that reduces the mutual capacitancegenerated by at least one of coupling between the object and at leastone driving electrode and coupling between the object and at leastanother touch signal detection electrode.

The touch input device may further include a control unit configured toinhibit the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from thetouch-position-related signal.

At least one touch signal detection electrode may be disposed to beadjacent to at least one driving electrode, and at least another touchsignal detection electrode may be disposed to be spaced apart from atleast one driving electrode at a predetermined distance and connected toa channel different from a channel to which at least one touch signaldetection electrode is connected.

At least one of the driving electrodes disposed between at least onetouch signal detection electrode and at least another touch signaldetection electrode may be set to be grounded, or at least one touchsignal detection electrode may be set to be grounded.

A sum of an area of at least another touch signal detection electrodemay be equal to a sum of an area of at least one touch signal detectionelectrode.

The touch sensor may include a plurality of driving electrodes, aplurality of touch signal detection electrodes, and a plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes, the touch signal detection unitmay detect the touch-position-related signal related to the touchposition of the object inputted to the touch surface from at least onetouch signal detection electrode, among the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes, which forms mutual capacitance with at least oneof the plurality of driving electrodes, and the LGM disturbance signaldetection unit may detect the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal fromat least one LGM disturbance signal detection electrode, among theplurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes, which does notform mutual capacitance with at least one driving electrode.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the touch-position-related signalmay include information about capacitance that reduces the mutualcapacitance generated by at least one of coupling between the object andat least one driving electrode and coupling between the object and atleast one touch signal detection electrode, and theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal may include information aboutcapacitance that reduces the mutual capacitance generated by at leastone of coupling between the object and at least one driving electrodeand coupling between the object and at least one LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode.

The touch input device may further include a control unit configured toinhibit the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from thetouch-position-related signal.

Each of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes maybe disposed in each of the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes.

A center of each of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes and a center of each of the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes may be coincident.

A sum of areas of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes may be equal to a sum of areas of the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes.

Each of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes maybe formed by removing a part of an inner portion of each of theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes.

At least one touch signal detection electrode may be disposed between atleast one driving electrode and at least one LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode, and at least one touch signal detection electrodemay be set to be grounded.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes and the plurality ofLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes may be disposed on a layerdifferent from a layer on which the plurality of driving electrodes isdisposed, and a first region in which the plurality of drivingelectrodes overlaps the plurality of touch signal detection electrodesmay be larger than a second region in which the plurality of drivingelectrodes overlaps the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes.

Each of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes maybe disposed in each of the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes.

A center of each of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes and a center of each of the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes may be coincident.

A sum of areas of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes may be equal to a sum of areas of the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes.

Each of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes maybe formed by removing a part of an inner portion of each of theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes.

At least one touch signal detection electrode may be disposed between atleast one driving electrode and at least one LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode, and at least one touch signal detection electrodemay be set to be grounded.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes and the plurality ofLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes may be disposed on a layerdifferent from a layer on which the plurality of driving electrodes isdisposed, and a first region in which the plurality of drivingelectrodes overlaps the plurality of touch signal detection electrodesmay be larger than a second region in which the plurality of drivingelectrodes overlaps the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes.

Each of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes maybe disposed in each of the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes.

A center of each of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes and a center of each of the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes may be coincident.

A sum of areas of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes may be equal to a sum of areas of the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes.

A width of the first region may be larger than a width of the secondregion.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the touch sensor may include aplurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes, the touch signal detection unit may detect thetouch-position-related signal related to the touch position of theobject inputted to the touch surface from at least one touch signaldetection electrode, among the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes, which forms mutual capacitance with at least one of theplurality of driving electrodes, and the LGM disturbance signaldetection unit may detect the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal fromat least one touch signal detection electrode, among the plurality oftouch signal detection electrodes, which does not form mutualcapacitance with at least another of the plurality of drivingelectrodes.

The touch-position-related signal may include information aboutcapacitance that reduces the mutual capacitance generated by at leastone of coupling between the object and at least one driving electrodeand coupling between the object and at least one touch signal detectionelectrode, and the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal may includeinformation about capacitance that reduces the mutual capacitancegenerated by at least one of coupling between the object and at leastanother driving electrode and coupling between the object and at leastone touch signal detection electrode.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a touchinput device having a touch surface, the touch input device including: atouch sensor including a plurality of first electrode columns having aplurality of first electrodes, and a plurality of second electrodecolumns having a plurality of second electrodes; in which in a firsttouch region of the touch sensor, at least two second electrodesincluded in the second electrode column, which is any one of theplurality of second electrode columns, are disposed to be adjacent in acolumn direction so as to correspond to the first electrode included inthe first electrode column, which is any one of the plurality of firstelectrode columns, in which in a second touch region adjacent to thefirst touch region in a row direction, at least two other secondelectrodes included in the second electrode column are disposed to beadjacent in the column direction so as to correspond to another firstelectrode included in the first electrode column, in which the secondelectrode, which is disposed first in the row direction among at leasttwo second electrodes included in the second touch region, is connected,with one trace, to the second electrode disposed immediately before thesecond electrode, which is disposed lastly in the row direction among atleast two second electrodes disposed in the first touch region, in whichthe second electrode, which is disposed second in the row directionamong at least two second electrodes disposed in the second touchregion, is connected, with one trace, to the second electrode, which isdisposed lastly in the row direction among at least two secondelectrodes disposed in the first touch region, and in which any one ofthe remaining second electrodes, which are disposed in the row directionamong at least two second electrodes disposed in the second touchregion, is connected with one trace, to the second electrode, which isdisposed to be symmetrical with any one of the remaining secondelectrodes in the first touch region.

The touch input device may further include: a touch signal detectionunit configured to detect a touch-position-related signal related to atouch position of an object inputted to the touch surface from the firstelectrode which is included in the first electrode column and formsmutual capacitance with at least one second electrode among at least twosecond electrodes included in the second electrode column; and an LGMdisturbance signal detection unit configured to detect anLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from the first electrode, whichdoes not form mutual capacitance with at least one second electrodeamong the first electrodes included in the first electrode column andanother first electrode column.

The touch-position-related signal may include information aboutcapacitance that reduces the mutual capacitance generated by couplingbetween the object, at least one second electrode, and the firstelectrode included in the first electrode column, and theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal may include information aboutcapacitance that reduces the mutual capacitance generated by couplingbetween the object, at least one second electrode, and the firstelectrode included in another first electrode column

Still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides atouch input device having a touch surface, the touch input deviceincluding: a touch sensor including a plurality of first electrodecolumns having a plurality of first electrodes, and a plurality ofsecond electrode columns having a plurality of second electrodes; inwhich in a first touch region of the touch sensor, a first electrode setand a second electrode set included in the second electrode column,which is any one of the plurality of second electrode columns, aredisposed to be adjacent in a column direction so as to correspond to thefirst electrode included in the first electrode column, which is any oneof the plurality of first electrode columns, in which each of the firstelectrode set and the second electrode set comprises at least two secondelectrodes, in which in a second touch region adjacent to the firsttouch region in a row direction, a third electrode set and a fourthelectrode set included in the second electrode column are disposed to beadjacent in the column direction so as to correspond to another firstelectrode included in the first electrode column, in which each of thethird electrode set and the fourth electrode set comprises at least twosecond electrodes, in which any one of at least two second electrodesincluded in the third electrode set is connected, with one trace, to thesecond electrode disposed at a position symmetrical, in the rowdirection, with any one of at least two second electrodes in the firstelectrode set, and in which any one of at least two second electrodesincluded in the fourth electrode set is connected, with one trace, tothe second electrode disposed at a position symmetrical, in the rowdirection, with any one of at least two second electrodes in the secondelectrode set.

The touch input device may further include: a touch signal detectionunit configured to detect a touch-position-related signal related to atouch position of an object inputted to the touch surface from the firstelectrode which is included in the first electrode column and formsmutual capacitance with at least one second electrode among at least twosecond electrodes included in the second electrode column; and an LGMdisturbance signal detection unit configured to detect anLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from the first electrode, whichdoes not form mutual capacitance with at least one second electrodeamong the first electrodes included in the first electrode column andanother first electrode column.

The touch-position-related signal may include information aboutcapacitance that reduces the mutual capacitance generated by at leastone of coupling between the object and at least one second electrode andcoupling between the object and the first electrode included in thefirst electrode column, and the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signalmay include information about capacitance that reduces the mutualcapacitance generated by at least one of coupling between the object andat least one second electrode and coupling between the object and thefirst electrode included in another first electrode column.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides atouch input device having a touch surface, the touch input deviceincluding: a touch sensor including a plurality of first electrodecolumns having a plurality of first electrodes, and a plurality ofsecond electrode columns having a plurality of second electrodes; inwhich a second electrode column is disposed at one side based on thefirst electrode column, which is any one of the plurality of firstelectrode columns, and another second electrode column is disposed atthe other side, in which a second electrode included in the secondelectrode column and another second electrode included in another secondelectrode column constitute the same channel based on any one firstelectrode included in the first electrode column, and in which the firstelectrode constitutes the same channel with some of the first electrodesdisposed in the same row as the first electrode.

A second-1 electrode and a second-2 electrode, which are included in thesecond electrode column, may be disposed at one side based on the firstelectrode, a second-3 electrode and a second-4 electrode, which areincluded in another second electrode column, may be disposed at theother side based on the first electrode, the second-1 electrode and thesecond-3 electrode may constitute the same channel, and the second-2electrode and the second-4 electrode may constitute the same channel.

Some of the first electrodes and the first electrode may be half innumber of the first electrodes disposed in the same row.

A second-1 electrode and a second-2 electrode, which are included in thesecond electrode column, may be disposed to be adjacent to one side soas to correspond to the first electrode included in the first electrodecolumn, a second-3 electrode and a second-4 electrode, which areincluded in the second electrode column, may be disposed to be adjacentto one side so as to correspond to another first electrode included inthe first electrode column, the second-1 electrode and the second-3electrode may be connected with one second trace, and the second-2electrode and the second-4 electrode may be connected with anothersecond trace.

A second-1 electrode and a second-2 electrode, which are included in thesecond electrode column, may be disposed to be adjacent to one side soas to correspond to the first electrode included in the first electrodecolumn, a second-3 electrode and a second-4 electrode, which areincluded in the second electrode column, may be disposed to be adjacentto one side so as to correspond to another first electrode included inthe first electrode column, the second-1 electrode and the second-4electrode may be connected with one second trace, and the second-2electrode and the second-3 electrode may be connected with anothersecond trace.

A second-1 electrode and a second-2 electrode, which are included in thesecond electrode column, may be disposed to be adjacent to one side soas to correspond to the first electrode included in the first electrodecolumn, the second-2 electrode and a second-3 electrode, which areincluded in the second electrode column, may be disposed to be adjacentto one side so as to correspond to another first electrode included inthe first electrode column, and the second-1 electrode and the second-3electrode may be connected with one second trace.

A second-1 electrode and a second-2 electrode, which are included in thesecond electrode column, may be disposed to be adjacent to one side soas to correspond to the first electrode included in the first electrodecolumn, the second-2 electrode and a second-3 electrode, which areincluded in the second electrode column, may be disposed to be adjacentto one side so as to correspond to another first electrode included inthe first electrode column, the second-3 electrode and a second-4electrode, which are included in the second electrode column, may bedisposed to be adjacent to one side so as to correspond to still anotherfirst electrode included in the first electrode column, the second-1electrode and the second-3 electrode may be connected with one secondtrace, the second-2 electrode and the second-4 electrode may beconnected with another second trace, a second-1′ electrode and asecond-2′ electrode, which are included in another second electrodecolumn, may be disposed to be adjacent to the other side so as tocorrespond to the first electrode included in the first electrodecolumn, the second-2′ electrode and a second-3 electrode, which areincluded in another second electrode column, may be disposed to beadjacent to the other side so as to correspond to another firstelectrode included in the first electrode column, the second-3′electrode and a second-4′ electrode, which are included in anothersecond electrode column, may be disposed to be adjacent to the otherside so as to correspond to still another first electrode included inthe first electrode column, the second-1′ electrode and the second-3′electrode may be connected with one second trace, and the second-2′electrode and the second-4′ electrode may be connected with anothersecond trace.

One side may correspond to one of left and right sides based on thefirst electrode, the other side may correspond to the other of the leftand right sides based on the first electrode, and at least one of a partof one second trace and a part of another second trace may be disposedabove the first electrode.

The first electrode and some of the first electrodes disposed in thesame row as the first electrode may constitute the same channelelectrodes, and all of the same channel electrodes may be connected withone first trace.

The same row may be a first row of the touch sensor, and one first tracemay be disposed above the touch sensor.

The first electrode and some of the first electrodes disposed in thesame row as the first electrode may constitute the same channelelectrodes, and some of the same channel electrodes may be connectedwith one first trace.

The same row may be a first row of the touch sensor, and one first tracemay be disposed above the touch sensor.

The first electrode and some of the first electrodes disposed in thesame row as the first electrode may constitute the same channelelectrodes, and some of the same channel electrodes may be connectedwith one first trace.

The same row may be a first row of the touch sensor, and one first tracemay be disposed above the touch sensor.

The touch input device may further include: a touch signal detectionunit configured to detect a touch-position-related signal related to atouch position of an object inputted to the touch surface from thesecond electrode and another second electrode which form mutualcapacitance with the first electrode; and an LGM disturbance signaldetection unit configured to detect an LGM-disturbance-signal-relatedsignal from the second electrodes, which do not form mutual capacitancewith the first electrode among the plurality of second electrodes.

Still yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention providesa touch input device having a touch surface, the touch input deviceincluding: a touch sensor including a plurality of first electrodecolumns having a plurality of first electrodes, and a plurality ofsecond electrode columns having a plurality of second electrodes, inwhich a second electrode column is disposed at one side based on thefirst electrode column, which is any one of the plurality of firstelectrode columns, and another second electrode column is disposed atthe other side, in which a second electrode included in the secondelectrode column and another second electrode included in another secondelectrode column constitute the same channel based on any one firstelectrode included in the first electrode column, in which a second-1electrode and a second-2 electrode included in the second electrodecolumn are disposed to be adjacent to one side so as to correspond tothe first electrode included in the first electrode column, in which asecond-3 electrode and a second-4 electrode included in the secondelectrode column are disposed to be adjacent to one side so as tocorrespond to another first electrode included in the first electrodecolumn, and in which the second-1 electrode and the second-3 electrodeare connected with one second trace, and the second-2 electrode and thesecond-4 electrode are connected with another second trace.

With the use of the touch sensor and the touch input device includingthe touch sensor according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, there is an advantage in that the touch signal may bedetected even in the state in which the touch input device is in thefloating state, like or similar to the gripped state.

There is an advantage in that the two or more multiple touches may berecognized even in the state in which the touch input device is in thefloating state.

There is an advantage in that the third touch (3^(rd) Touch) touchedtogether with the cross touches may be recognized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic view illustrating a touch sensor of a touch inputdevice according to an exemplary embodiment and a configuration foroperating the touch sensor, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are circuit diagrams ofa touch signal detection unit and an LGM disturbance signal detectionunit that constitute FIG. 1A.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views illustrating examples of the touch sensor havinga double-layer structure.

FIGS. 4A to 4F are illustrative cross-sectional structural views of thetouch input device having the touch sensor.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views illustrating output data for explaining a reasonwhy an LGM disturbance signal is generated in the touch input devicehaving the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 2 and/or FIG. 3.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views for explaining a principle of generating the LGMdisturbance signal in a state in which the touch input device having thetouch sensor implemented to have a double layer (2-layer) is in afloating state.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example in which the touch sensor 10illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured to have a single layer (1-layer).

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an enlarged part of another example inwhich the touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is formed to have asingle layer (1-layer).

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating raw data outputted from thetouch input device when an object such as a thumb comes into contactwith a specific part of the touch surface of the touch input devicehaving the structure of the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an enlarged part of still another examplein which the touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is formed to have asingle layer (1-layer).

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating raw data when an object such as a thumbcomes into contact with a specific part of the touch surface of thetouch input device having the structure of the touch sensor illustratedin FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a graph approximately comparing LGM performances of the touchsensors illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an enlarged part of still another examplein which the touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is formed to have asingle layer (1-layer).

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an enlarged part of still yet anotherexample in which the touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is formed tohave a single layer (1-layer).

FIG. 17 is an illustrative conceptual view illustrating a conceptualizedtouch sensor according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 is a conceptual view illustrating a conceptualized touch sensoraccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventionillustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 19A is a view for explaining an example in which some of aplurality of touch signal detection electrodes of the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 12 are used as LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes.

FIG. 19B is a view for explaining an example in which separate LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes are implemented in the pluralityof touch signal detection electrodes of the touch sensor in comparisonwith FIG. 19A.

FIGS. 19C to 19E illustrate a method of connecting the trace and theelectrode pattern manufactured by applying the principle illustrated inFIGS. 37C to 37E which is described above with reference to FIG. 19A.

FIGS. 19F and 19G illustrate other electrode arrangement forms accordingto the exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 20A-20C are illustrative views illustrating raw data outputtedfrom the touch input device having the touch sensor according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual view illustrating a conceptualized touch sensoraccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention having abridge structure.

FIG. 22 is a configuration view of the touch sensor according to anexample in which a conceptual view of the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 21 may be applied.

FIG. 23 is another conceptual view illustrating a conceptualized touchsensor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventionhaving a bridge structure.

FIG. 24 is a configuration view of the touch sensor according to anexample in which a conceptual view of the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 23 may be applied.

FIG. 25A is a configuration view of the touch sensor according toanother example in which a conceptual view of the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 21 may be applied.

FIG. 25B is a view illustrating for explaining an example in whichseparate LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes are implemented inthe plurality of touch signal detection electrodes in comparison withFIG. 25A.

FIG. 26 is a configuration view of the touch sensor according to anotherexample in which a conceptual view of the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 23 may be applied.

FIG. 27 is a view illustrating raw data outputted in a gripped state anda floating state from the touch input device having the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 10 when a test is performed with a 15 φ conductiverod.

FIG. 28 is a view illustrating raw data outputted in the gripped stateand the floating state from the touch input device according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention having the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 12 when a test is performed with the 15 φ conductiverod.

FIG. 29 is a view illustrating raw data outputted in the gripped stateand the floating state from the touch input device having the touchsensor illustrated in FIG. 10 when a test is performed with a 20 φconductive rod.

FIG. 30 is a view illustrating raw data outputted in the gripped stateand the floating state from the touch input device according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention having the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 12 when a test is performed with the 20 φ conductiverod.

FIG. 31 is a view illustrating raw data outputted in the gripped stateand the floating state from the touch input device having the touchsensor illustrated in FIG. 10 when a test is performed with a person'sthumb.

FIG. 32 is a view illustrating raw data outputted in the gripped stateand the floating state from the touch input device according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention having the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 12 when a test is performed with a person's thumb.

FIG. 33 is a view illustrating a state in which multiple touches made bymultiple objects cannot be recognized when touch input devices in therelated art are in the floating state.

FIGS. 34A to 34C are views illustrating raw data for explaining a statein which the touch input device according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention recognizes multiple touches.

FIG. 35 is a view illustrating a state in which a third touch cannot berecognized when cross touches and the third touch are made together onthe touch surface of the touch input devices in the related art.

FIGS. 36A to 36C are views illustrating raw data for explaining a statein which the touch input device according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention recognizes cross touches and a third touch.

FIGS. 37A to 37E is a view for explaining an arrangement form ofelectrodes, which constitute the touch sensor 10, for reducing an LGMdisturbance signal according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 38 to 48 are views illustrating various types of electrodearrangement forms and trace connection forms according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention and explain a case inwhich inhibition of LGM is applied to each of the exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the present invention will be madewith reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating specificexemplary embodiments for carrying out the present invention. Theseexemplary embodiments will be described in detail enough to carry outthe present invention by those skilled in the art. It should beunderstood that various exemplary embodiments of the present inventionare different from one another but need not be mutually exclusive. Forexample, particular shapes, structures, and characteristics describedherein in respect to one exemplary embodiment may be implemented inother exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that theposition or arrangement of each constituent element in the respectivedisclosed exemplary embodiments may be changed without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the followingdetailed description is not considered as having limited meanings, andthe scope of the present invention, if adequately explained, is limitedonly by the appended claims as well as all the scopes equivalent to thefeatures claimed in the appended claims. Like reference numerals in thedrawings refer to the same or similar functions throughout severalaspects.

Hereinafter, a touch sensor and a touch input device including the sameaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, acapacitance type touch sensor 10 will be illustratively described, butthe present invention may be equally/similarly applied to the touchsensor 10 that may detect a touch position in any way.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the touch sensor 10 according to the exemplaryembodiment may include patterns having a predetermined shape, and thepredetermined patterns may include a plurality of driving electrodes TX1to TXm, a plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn, anda plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1.

The touch sensor 10 may include a drive unit 12 configured to apply adriving signal to the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm inorder to operate the touch sensor 10, a touch signal detection unit 11 aconfigured to detect, from the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX1 to RXn, a touch and a touch position with atouch-position-related signal which includes information about theamount of change in capacitance that changes in accordance with a touchof an object on a touch surface, and an LGM disturbance signal detectionunit 11 b configured to detect an LGM-disturbance-signal-related signalfrom the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes.

The touch signal detection unit 11 a according to the exemplaryembodiment may output the touch-position-related signal from thepredetermined touch signal detection electrode that forms mutualcapacitance with any driving electrode.

The touch-position-related signal according to the exemplary embodimentmay include information about the amount of change in mutual capacitancegenerated between any driving electrode and the predetermined touchsignal detection electrode by a touch of an object, and informationabout capacitance that reduces the amount of change in mutualcapacitance generated by coupling between the object and any drivingelectrode and/or the predetermined touch signal detection electrode (1).

Meanwhile, the LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b according tothe exemplary embodiment may output the LGM-disturbance-signal-relatedsignal from the predetermined LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode. The predetermined LGM disturbance signal detection electrodedoes not form the mutual capacitance with any driving electrode. In thiscase, insignificant mutual capacitance may be actually formed, but theinsignificant mutual capacitance may be ignored when whether the touchis made is detected.

The LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal according to the exemplaryembodiment may include the information about capacitance that reducesthe amount of change in mutual capacitance generated by coupling betweenthe object and any driving electrode and/or the predetermined LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode which is generated by the touchof the object (2).

(1) and (2) may be referred to as an LGM disturbance signal, and aprinciple of generating the LGM disturbance signal will be describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

A control unit 13 may obtain the amount of change in pure mutualcapacitance generated between any driving electrode and thepredetermined touch signal detection electrode by using thetouch-position-related signal outputted from the touch signal detectionunit 11 a and the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal outputted fromthe LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b.

According to the exemplary embodiment, there may be various methods ofobtaining the amount of change in mutual capacitance by using thetouch-position-related signal and the LGM-disturbance-signal-relatedsignal.

According to the specific exemplary embodiment, the control unit 13 mayderive a LGM disturbance signal component generated by an LGM phenomenonby using the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal outputted from theLGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b. The control unit 13 mayinhibit the LGM disturbance signal component from the signal detectedfrom the touch signal detection electrode, for example, by using thederived LGM disturbance signal component, thereby obtaining the amountof change in pure mutual capacitance generated between any drivingelectrode and the predetermined touch signal detection electrode.

There may be various methods of inhibiting the LGM disturbance signalcomponent from the signal detected from the touch signal detectionelectrode. According to the specific exemplary embodiment, the controlunit 13 may obtain the amount of change in pure mutual capacitancegenerated between any driving electrode and the predetermined touchsignal detection electrode by subtracting theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal, which is outputted from the LGMdisturbance signal detection unit 11 b, from the touch-position-relatedsignal outputted from the touch signal detection unit 11 a. That is,when the touch surface is touched by the object, (A) some of the touchsignal detection electrodes form mutual capacitance with any drivingelectrode and form capacitance by coupling, but (B) some of the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes form only the capacitance bycoupling without forming the mutual capacitance with any drivingelectrode, and as a result, only a pure mutual capacitance value may beobtained by subtracting B from A.

Alternatively, according to another exemplary embodiment, thetouch-position-related signal X and the LGM disturbance signal Y may beprocessed by linear superposition by applying an expression of aX+bY (a,b: coefficients), thereby inhibiting the LGM disturbance signal.According to the exemplary embodiment, the expression may be applied bychanging the coefficients a and b in accordance with the positions ofthe electrodes.

In the case of the present invention, local noise such as the LGMdisturbance signal may be inhibited, particularly, eliminated, from thesignal detected from the touch signal detection electrode through theabove-mentioned method, thereby improving touch sensitivity.

FIG. 1A illustrates that the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm,the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn, and theplurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1 ofthe touch sensor 10 constitute an orthogonal array, but the presentinvention is not limited thereto. The plurality of driving electrodesTX1 to TXm, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 toRXn, and the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodesLX1 to LX1 may have any number of dimensions and applicationarrangements thereof including diagonal lines, concentric circles, andthree-dimensional random arrangements. In this case, n, l, and m arepositive integers, may have an equal value or different values, and mayhave dimensions that vary depending on the exemplary embodiments.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1to TXm, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn,and the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 toLX1 may be arranged to intersect one another. Specifically, theplurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm may extend in a direction ofa first axis, and the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1to RXn and the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodesLX1 to LX1 may be disposed to extend in a direction of a second axisthat intersects the direction of the first axis.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1to TXm, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn,and the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 toLX1 may be formed on different double layers (2-layers). For example,the electrodes may have a bar pattern as illustrated in FIG. 2, or adiamond pattern as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this case, the layer onwhich the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm is formed may bedisposed above the layer on which the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX1 to RXn is formed, or vice versa. An insulatinglayer, which prevents a short circuit between the plurality of drivingelectrodes and a plurality of receiving electrodes, may be formedbetween the double layer.

For reference, FIGS. 1A, 2, and 3 illustrate that the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn is disposed all together and thenthe plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1is disposed, but according to another exemplary embodiment, at least oneof the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn and atleast one of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX1 to LX1 may be alternately disposed. That is, theelectrodes may be disposed in the form of RX1-LX1-RX2-LX2.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the touch sensor 10 including the pluralityof driving electrodes TX1 to TXm, the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX1 to RXn, and the plurality of LGM disturbancesignal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1 may be disposed between a coverlayer 100 and a display panel 200A together with OCA disposedabove/below the touch sensor 10 (Add-on). As illustrated in FIG. 4B, thetouch sensor 10 may be disposed directly on an upper surface of thedisplay panel 200A (e.g., an upper surface of an encapsulation layer ofthe display panel 200A) (on-cell). Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 4C,the touch sensor 10 including the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 toTXm, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn, andthe plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1may be disposed in the display panel 200A (e.g., between theencapsulation layer and an organic light emitting layer of the displaypanel 200A) (in-cell).

In FIGS. 4A to 4C, the display panel 200A may be a rigid OLED panel or aflexible OLED panel. In the case in which the display panel is the rigidOLED panel, the encapsulation layer and a TFT layer may be made ofglass. In the case in which the display panel is the flexible OLEDpanel, the encapsulation layer may be made of a thin film, and the TFTlayer may be made of a PI film.

Meanwhile, FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate that the display panel 200A is theOLED panel, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Asillustrated in FIGS. 4D to 4F, a display panel 200B may be an LCD panel.Because of the characteristics of the LCD panel, a back light unit (BLU)250 is disposed below the display panel 200B.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4D, the touch sensor 10 may beattached to (added on) the cover window glass 100. In this case,although not illustrated in the drawings, the touch sensor 10 may beattached, in the form of a film, to an upper surface of the cover windowglass 100. As illustrated in FIG. 4E, the touch sensor 10 may be formed(on-cell) on a color filter glass of the display panel 200B. In thiscase, as illustrated in the drawings, the touch sensor 10 may be formedon an upper surface of the color filter glass. However, although notillustrated in the drawings, the touch sensor 10 may be formed on alower surface of the color filter glass. As illustrated in FIG. 4F, thetouch sensor 10 may be formed on the TFT layer (TFT array) (in-cell). Inthis case, as illustrated in the drawings, the touch sensor 10 may beformed on an upper surface of the TFT layer (TFT array). However,although not illustrated in the drawings, the touch sensor 10 may beformed on a lower surface of the TFT layer (TFT array). In addition,although not illustrated in the separate drawings, one of the drivingelectrode and the receiving electrode may be formed on the color filterglass of the display panel 200B, and the other of the driving electrodeand the receiving electrode may be formed on the TFT layer.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, at least one of the plurality of drivingelectrodes TX1 to TXm, the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX1 to RXn, and the plurality of LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes LX1 to LX1 may be made of a transparentelectrically conductive material, for example, ITO (indium tin oxide) orATO (antimony tin oxide) including tin oxide SnO₂ and indium oxideIn2O3. However, this configuration is merely an example, and at leastone of the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm, the plurality oftouch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn, and the plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1 may be made ofanother transparent electrically conductive material or an opaqueelectrically conductive material. For example, the electrode may includeat least one of silver ink, copper, nano silver, and carbon nanotube(CNT). In addition, at least one of the plurality of driving electrodesTX1 to TXm, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 toRXn, and the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodesLX1 to LX1 may be implemented as a metal mesh.

The drive unit 12 may apply the driving signal to the driving electrodesTX1 to TXm. The touch signal detection unit 11 a may detect whether thetouch is made and the touch position by receiving thetouch-position-related signal including the information about the amountof change in mutual capacitance generated between the touch signaldetection electrodes RX1 to RXn and the driving electrodes TX1 to TXm towhich the driving signal is applied through the touch signal detectionelectrodes RX1 to RXn. The touch-position-related signal also include anoise signal as well as a signal coupled by the mutual capacitancegenerated between the touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn andthe driving electrodes TX1 to TXm by the driving signal applied to thedriving electrodes TX1 to TXm. The noise signal may include LGMdisturbance signal information generated in the floating state.

The touch signal detection unit 11a may include a receiver connected toeach of the touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn through aswitch. The switch is turned on in a time section in which the signalsof the corresponding touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn aredetected, thereby allowing the receiver to output thetouch-position-related signal from the touch signal detection electrodesRX1 to RXn.

For example, referring to FIG. 1B, the receiver may include amplifiersAMP₁₋₁ to AMP_(1-n), and feedback capacitors coupled between negative −input terminals IN₁₋₁ to IN_(1-n) of the amplifiers and output terminalsOUT₁₋₁ to OUT_(1-n) of the amplifiers, that is, coupled in feedbackroutes. In this case, positive + input terminals (IN₂₋₁ to IN_(2-n)) ofthe amplifiers may be connected to a reference voltage. In this case,the reference voltage may be, for example, a ground voltage, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the receiver mayfurther include a reset switch connected in parallel with the feedbackcapacitor. The reset switch may reset conversion of current to voltageperformed by the receiver. The negative input terminals IN₁₋₁ toIN_(1-n) of the amplifiers are connected to the corresponding touchsignal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn, respectively, may receive andintegrate touch-position-related signals SRX1 to SRXn, and then mayconvert the integrated touch-position-related signals SRX1 to SRXn intothe voltage.

The touch signal detection unit 11 a may further include an ADC (analogto digital converter) that converts the data integrated by the receiverinto digital data values. Thereafter, the digital data may be inputtedto a processor (not illustrated) and processed to obtain informationabout the touch on the touch sensor 10. The touch signal detection unitIla may include the ADC and the processor in addition to the receiver.

The touch signal detection unit 11 a according to the exemplaryembodiment may convert the touch-position-related signals SRX1 to SRXnintegrated by the receiver into digital data values SRXD1 to SRXDn andoutput the digital data values SRXD1 to SRXDn.

The touch signal detection unit 11 a may include the receiver and theADC corresponding to each of the touch signal detection electrodes witha one-to-one relationship. Therefore, each of the touch-position-relatedsignals is outputted from each of the touch signal detection electrodes,and each of the digital data values may be outputted through thecorresponding receiver and the corresponding ADC.

Meanwhile, the LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b may includethe receiver connected to each of the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX1 to LX1 through the switch. The switch is turned on in atime section in which the signals of the corresponding LGM disturbancesignal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1 are detected, thereby allowingthe receiver to output the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal fromthe LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1.

For example, referring to FIG. 1C, the receiver may include amplifiersAMP₂₋₁ to AMP_(2-L), and feedback capacitors coupled between negative(−) input terminals IN₃₋₁ to IN₃₋₁ of the amplifiers and outputterminals OUT₂₋₁ to OUT₂₋₁ of the amplifiers, that is, coupled infeedback routes. In this case, positive (+) input terminals IN₄₋₁ toIN₄₋₁ of the amplifiers may be connected to a reference voltage. In thiscase, the reference voltage may be, for example, a ground voltage, butthe present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the receivermay further include a reset switch connected in parallel with thefeedback capacitor. The reset switch may reset conversion of current tovoltage performed by the receiver. The negative input terminals IN3-1 toIN3-1 of the amplifiers are connected to the corresponding LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1, respectively, mayreceive and integrate LGM-disturbance-signal-related signals SLX1 toSLXL1, and then may convert the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signalsSLX1 to SLXL1 into the voltage.

The LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b may further include anADC (analog to digital converter) that converts the data integrated bythe receiver into digital data values. Thereafter, the digital data maybe inputted to a processor (not illustrated) and processed to obtain theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal with respect to the touch sensor10. The LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b may include the ADCand the processor in addition to the receiver.

The LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b according to theexemplary embodiment may convert the LGM-disturbance-signal-relatedsignals SLX1 to SLX1 integrated by the receiver into digital data valuesSLXD1 to SLXD1 and output the digital data values SLXD1 to SLXD1.

The LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b may include the receiverand the ADC corresponding to each of the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes with a one-to-one relationship. Therefore, each ofthe LGM-disturbance-signal-related signals may be outputted from each ofthe LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes, and each of the digitaldata values may be outputted through the corresponding receiver and thecorresponding ADC.

The control unit 13 may perform a function of controlling the operationof the drive unit 12, the touch signal detection unit 11 a, and the LGMdisturbance signal detection unit 11 b. For example, the control unit 13generates a driving control signal and then transmits the drivingcontrol signal to a drive unit 12 so that the driving signal may beapplied to the predetermined driving electrodes TX1 to TXm within apredetermined time. In addition, the control unit 13 generates adetection control signal and then transmits the detection control signalto the touch signal detection unit 11 a so that the touch signaldetection unit 11 a may receive the touch-position-related signal fromthe predetermined touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn within apredetermined time and perform a predetermined function. The controlunit 13 generates a detection control signal and then transmits thedetection control signal to the LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11b so that the LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b may receive theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from the predetermined LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1 within apredetermined time and perform a predetermined function.

In FIG. 1A, the drive unit 12, the touch signal detection unit 11 a, andthe LGM disturbance signal detection unit 11 b may constitute a touchdetection unit (not illustrated) that may detect whether the touch ismade on the touch sensor 10 and the touch position. In addition, thetouch detection unit may further include the control unit 13. The touchdetection unit may be implemented by being integrated on a touch sensingintegrated circuit (IC). For example, the driving electrodes TX1 to TXm,the touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn, and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1, which are includedin the touch sensor 10, may be connected to the drive unit 12, the touchsignal detection unit 11 a, and the LGM disturbance signal detectionunit 11 b, which are included in the touch sensing IC, through aconductive trace and/or a conductive pattern printed on a circuit board.The touch sensing IC may be positioned on a circuit board having aprinted conductive pattern, for example, a touch circuit board(hereinafter, referred to as a ‘touch PCB’). According to the exemplaryembodiment, the touch sensing IC may be mounted on a main board foroperating the touch input device.

As described above, predetermined capacitance Cm is generated for eachintersection point between the driving electrodes TX1 to TXm and thetouch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn, and a value of thecapacitance Cm may be changed when an object such as a finger approachesthe touch sensor 10. In FIG. 1A, the capacitance may be mutualcapacitance Cm. The touch signal detection unit 11 a may detect theelectrical characteristics, thereby detecting whether the touch is madeon the touch sensor 10 and/or the touch position. For example, it ispossible to detect whether the touch is made on the surface of the touchsensor 10 having a two-dimensional plane having the first axis and thesecond axis and/or the touch position.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views illustrating output data for explaining a reasonwhy an LGM disturbance signal is generated in the touch input devicehaving the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 2 and/or FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating data made by converting thetouch-position-related signal, which is outputted through touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 to RX33, into a digital value (or a signallevel value) when an object comes into contact with a specific part ofthe touch surface of the touch input device illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3in a normal situation in which the touch input device is gripped. FIG. 6is a view illustrating data made by converting thetouch-position-related signal, which is outputted through the touchsignal detection electrodes RX0 to RX33, into a digital value (or asignal level value) when an object comes into contact with the specificpart of the touch surface of the touch input device illustrated in FIG.2 or 3 in a state in which the touch input device is in the floatingstate.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the normal situation, a region, in whichdigital values having relatively large values among the outputteddigital values are distributed, is positioned at a central portion.However, in the floating state as illustrated in FIG. 6, the digitalvalues at the central portion have absolutely different aspects (signalsplit) in comparison with FIG. 5. That is, in FIG. 6, the digital valuesat the central portion have significantly small values. In this manner,even though the user actually makes one touch or a big touch on thetouch surface of the touch input device, the touch input device mayerroneously recognize that one touch is not made or two or more touchesare made. This is caused by the LGM disturbance signal generated bycoupling between the object and the driving electrode. The normalsituation illustrated in FIG. 5 is a situation in which the fingertouches the touch surface of the touch input device in a state in whichthe user grips the touch input device, and the finger acts as a normalground. Further, the floating state as illustrated in FIG. 6 is asituation in which the finger cannot act as the normal ground becausethe user touches, with his/her finger, the touch surface of the touchinput device in a state in which the touch input device is placed on abottom or a mount (e.g., a mount in a vehicle).

Hereinafter, the reason why there is a difference between the digitalvalue (or the signal level value) outputted in a state in which thetouch input device is in the floating state illustrated in FIG. 6 andthe digital value (or the signal level value) outputted in the normalsituation will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views for explaining a principle of generating the LGMdisturbance signal in a state in which the touch input device having thetouch sensor implemented to have a double layer (2-layer) is in afloating state. For reference, in the following description, the objectmay include a finger or a stylus.

For reference, the following normal situation means a situation in whichthe user touches the surface of the touch input device in a state inwhich the user grips the touch input device, such that the finger actsas the normal ground. Further, the situation in which the LGMdisturbance signal is generated means a situation in which the usertouches the surface of the touch input device in a state in which thetouch input device is placed on the bottom, such that the floatingoccurs and thus the finger cannot act as the normal ground.

For example, when the user touches the surface of the touch input devicewith his/her thumb, the amount ΔCm1 of change in first mutualcapacitance is detected between any driving electrode and thepredetermined touch signal detection electrode in the normal situationin which the LGM disturbance signal is not generated, but the amountΔCm2 of change in second mutual capacitance, which is smaller than theamount ΔCm1 of change in first mutual capacitance, is detected in thesituation in which the LGM disturbance signal is generated. That is, theLGM disturbance signal may be defined as a signal including informationabout capacitance that acts opposite to the amount ΔCm1 of change infirst mutual capacitance to reduce the amount ΔCm1 of change in firstmutual capacitance. (For reference, in this case, ΔCm1 and ΔCm2 aredefined as absolute values.) In other words, when any driving electrodeand the predetermined touch signal detection electrode are connectedthrough the touch of a low-ground conductive object, a separate currentroute is generated by coupling between the object and any drivingelectrode and/or the predetermined touch signal detection electrode, andthe driving signal is transmitted to the predetermined touch signaldetection electrode through this route, such that the LGM disturbancesignal opposite to a normal touch signal is generated.

In the present invention, the LGM disturbance signal may be formed notonly between the object and any driving electrode and/or thepredetermined touch signal detection electrode, but also between theobject and any driving electrode and/or the predetermined LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, when the amount of generated LGM disturbancesignal is relatively increased in any one cell region (including theplurality of driving electrodes and the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes included in the dotted line region), the digitalvalue corresponding to the finally outputted touch-position-relatedsignal is decreased as illustrated in FIG. 6. In particular, the numberof LGM disturbance signals is relatively increased when the big touch(in the present invention, a case in which a touch area, like the toucharea of the thumb, is larger than a touch area of a finger except forthe thumb is defined as the big touch) is made.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the LGM disturbance signals C1 and C2are generated by coupling between the object and the driving electrodeand/or the touch signal detection electrode in addition to the case inwhich the mutual capacitance Cm is generated between the drivingelectrode and the touch signal detection electrode when the objecttouches the touch surface of the touch input device in the floatingstate.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example in which the touch sensor 10illustrated in FIG. 1A is configured to have a single layer (1-layer).

Referring to FIG. 9, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm, theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn, and theplurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 to LX1illustrated in FIG. 1A are formed on one layer. For example, a set ofthe plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm may be arranged in aplurality of column and row directions adjacent to one rectangular touchsignal detection electrode and/or one rectangular LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode. In this case, the number of driving electrodesadjacent to one rectangular touch signal detection electrode and/or onerectangular LGM disturbance signal detection electrode may be four asillustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Forexample, the number of driving electrodes may be three, two, or five ormore. In addition, the driving electrode and the touch signal detectionelectrode and the LGM disturbance signal detection electrode may beconfigured in the opposite manner

The touch input device having the touch sensor 10 having the singlelayer structure illustrated in FIG. 9 has different aspects inaccordance with the gripped state and the floating state, as illustratedin FIGS. 5 and 6. This results from the fact that the object is placedon the low ground mass LGM in the floating state.

More specifically, through the object in the LGM state, the drivingsignal applied through the specific driving electrode is inputted to theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes and/or the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes which are in contact with theobject. That is, the object in the LGM state forms a current path.Therefore, the LGM disturbance signal having the opposite sign to thenormal touch signal is outputted from the touch signal detectionelectrode and/or the LGM disturbance signal detection electrode whichare in contact with the object. In this case, the reason why the LGMdisturbance signal and the normal touch signal have the opposite signsis that the normal touch signal causes the mutual capacitance Cm to bedecreased in case of the contact with the object in the state in whichthe predetermined mutual capacitance Cm is formed between the drivingelectrode and the touch signal detection electrode, but the LGMdisturbance signal causes the coupling capacitance to be generated incase of the contact with the object in the floating state. Therefore,the LGM disturbance signal generated in the floating state acts as afactor that decreases the digital value (or the signal level value)corresponding to the touch-position-related signal outputted through thetouch signal detection electrode.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 12, more specific examplesof the touch sensor having the single layer structure will be described,and raw data, which are outputted when the touch input device having thetouch sensor is in the floating state, will be described.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an enlarged part of another example inwhich the touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1A is formed to have asingle layer (1-layer).

Referring to FIG. 10, the touch sensor includes the plurality of drivingelectrodes TX0 to TX3, the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes LX4 to LX11. The plurality of driving electrodesTX0 to TX3, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX0 toRX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX4 to LX11 are arranged in the form of a matrix on the samelayer.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX0 to TX3, the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11 may be made of atransparent electrically conductive material, for example, ITO (indiumtin oxide) or ATO (antimony tin oxide) including tin oxide SnO₂ andindium oxide In₂O₃. However, this configuration is merely an example,and at least one of the driving electrodes TX0 to TX3, the touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11 may be made ofanother transparent electrically conductive material or an opaqueelectrically conductive material. For example, at least one of thedriving electrodes TX0 to TX3, the touch signal detection electrodes RX0to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX4 to LX11 may include at least one of silver ink, copper,nano silver, and carbon nanotube (CNT).

At least one of the driving electrodes TX0 to TX3, the touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11 may be implementedas a metal mesh. When at least one of the driving electrodes TX0 to TX3,the touch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, andthe LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11 isimplemented as a metal mesh, a wire connected to at least one of thedriving electrodes TX0 to TX3, the touch signal detection electrodes RX0to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX4 to LX11 may also be implemented as a metal mesh, and thewire and at least one of the driving electrodes TX0 to TX3, the touchsignal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11 may be integrallyimplemented as a metal mesh. When the wire and at least one of thedriving electrodes TX0 to TX3, the touch signal detection electrodes RX0to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX4 to LX11 are integrally implemented as a metal mesh, adead zone, in which the touch position cannot be detected, such as azone between the electrode and the wire and/or between the electrode andanother electrode, is reduced, thereby further improving sensitivity indetecting the touch position.

The touch sensor is arranged based on the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11. Therefore,hereinafter, an arrangement structure of the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15 and the plurality ofLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11 arranged incolumns B1 to B8 will be described first, and then an arrangementstructure of the plurality of driving electrodes TX0 to TX3 will bedescribed.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12to RX15 is disposed in a plurality of columns B1, B2, B3, and B4, andthe plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11is disposed in a plurality of columns B5, B6, B7, and B8. In this case,the plurality of driving electrodes TX0 to TX3 is arranged between theplurality of columns B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, and B8 in which thetouch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15 and theLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11 are arranged,and the plurality of driving electrodes TX0 to TX3 is arranged outsidethe first column B1 and in the plurality of columns A1, A2, A3, A4, A5,A6, A7, A8, and A9 formed outside the eighth column B8.

The two driving electrodes adjacent to both sides based on the touchsignal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15 and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11 are identical toeach other. That is, the two driving electrodes adjacent to both sidesbased on the touch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 toRX15 and the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11have an equal number. In this case, the configuration in which the twodriving electrodes are identical to each other or the two drivingelectrodes have an equal number means that the two driving electrodesare electrically connected to each other through the wire.

The touch sensor includes one or more sets in which the plurality oftouch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15, the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11, and the pluralityof identical driving electrodes are disposed in a predeterminedarrangement. The plurality of sets may be configured and repeatedlyarranged in a row direction.

One set may include the plurality of different touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15 and the different LGM disturbancesignal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11. For example, one set mayinclude the eight touch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12to RX15 and the eight LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 toLX11. The eight touch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 toRX15 and the eight LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 toLX11 are in a predetermined arrangement. The eight touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15 and the eight LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX4 to LX11 are divided into tworows and continuously arranged in a column direction. The electrodeshaving numbers from 0 to 7 are arranged in the first row from the leftto the right in the order of RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, LX4, LX5, LX6, and LX7,and the electrodes having numbers from 8 to 15 are arranged in thesecond row from the right to the left in the order of LX8, LX9, LX10,LX11, RX12, RX13, RX14, and RX15.

Meanwhile, the touch sensor includes the plurality of driving electrodesTX0 to TX3, and for example, the plurality of driving electrodes TX0 toTX3 may include the 0th driving electrode TX0 to the third drivingelectrode TX3. In this case, the respective driving electrodes may bedisposed to satisfy the following arrangement conditions.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX0 to TX3 are arranged to satisfythe following conditions. 1) The identical driving electrodes TX0 aredisposed, one for each of the left and right sides, based on the twodifferent touch signal detection electrodes RX0 and RX15 disposedcontinuously in the row direction. 2) The two driving electrodes TX0 andTX0, which face each other based on the two different touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 and RX15 and the two different LGM disturbancesignal detection electrodes LX4 and LX11 disposed continuously in therow direction, have an equal number. 3) The driving electrodes TX0 toTX3 arranged in the row direction have different numbers, and thedriving electrodes TX0 to TX3 arranged in the column direction have anequal number. 4) A length (horizontal length) of the driving electrodesarranged at both edges of each set may be half a length (horizontallength) of other driving electrodes, but the present invention is notlimited thereto, and the driving electrodes may have an equal length.

In the case of FIG. 10, according to the exemplary embodiment, thedriving signal is applied to the predetermined driving electrode TX0,the touch-position-related signal is detected from the predeterminedtouch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX3 and RX12 to RX15 by thetouch made by the object, the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal isdetected from the predetermined LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX4 to LX11, and a value of the amount of change in puremutual capacitance may be calculated by subtracting theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from the touch-position-relatedsignal.

However, referring to FIG. 10, the configuration in which the touchsignal detection electrode and the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode are physically separated is described, but according toanother exemplary embodiment, the principle described above withreference to FIG. 10 may be equally/similarly applied even in the casein which some of the touch signal detection electrodes are used as theLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes.

FIG. 10 illustrates that the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrode columns is disposed first and then the plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode columns is disposed (or viceversa), but the respective touch signal detection electrode columns andthe respective LGM disturbance signal detection electrode columns may bedisposed alternately (in the form of RX-LX-RX-LX).

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating raw data outputted from thetouch input device when an object such as a thumb comes into contactwith a specific part of the touch surface of the touch input devicehaving the structure of the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 10.

Specifically, FIG. 11A is a view illustrating raw data outputted whenthe touch input device having the structure of the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 10 is in the gripped state, and FIG. 11B is a viewillustrating raw data outputted when the touch input device having thestructure of the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 10 is in the floatingstate.

The raw data illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B may be data derivedthrough the following remapping process. When the driving signal issequentially applied to the plurality of driving electrodes of the touchsensor illustrated in FIG. 10, the predetermined touch-position-relatedsignal is outputted from the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes. The outputted touch-position-related signal is convertedinto the digital value (or the signal level value) corresponding to thetouch-position-related signal by the touch signal detection unit 11 aillustrated in FIG. 1A and then outputted. Further, the touch signaldetection unit 11 a illustrated in FIG. 1A perform mapping on theoutputted digital values corresponding to the respective positions onthe touch surface of the touch input device. Through the mappingprocess, the raw data illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B may be outputted.

The numbers designated to the raw data illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11Bmay be expressed as integers, and when the corresponding integer isequal to or larger than a predetermined reference integer value, forexample, +65, the touch signal detection unit 11 a of the touch inputdevice may identify or recognize that the object touches a part on whichthe corresponding number is positioned.

Referring to FIG. 11A, in the gripped state (normal situation), the datavalues distributed in a middle part of the raw data may have integervalues relatively larger than the data values distributed in otherparts. In contrast, referring to FIG. 11B, in the floating state, thedigital values distributed in the middle part has a different aspectfrom FIG. 11A. Specifically, the entire middle part has a relativelysmall integer value in comparison with FIG. 11A, and some portions ofthe middle part even have a negative (−) value. This is caused by theLGM disturbance signal generated in the floating state, and as a result,the touch input device may erroneously recognize that two touches aremade on the middle part instead of one touch or absolutely no touch ismade on the middle part.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an enlarged part of still another examplein which the touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is formed to have asingle layer (1-layer). However, in FIG. 1A, it is assumed that thetouch signal detection electrode and the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode are physically separated as separate electrodes.However, according to the arrangement form illustrated in FIG. 12, someof the touch signal detection electrodes may function as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes.

Referring to FIG. 12, the touch sensor includes the plurality of drivingelectrodes TX1 to TXm and the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX1 to RXn. The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXmand the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn arearranged in the form of a matrix on the same layer.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm and the plurality oftouch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn may be made of atransparent electrically conductive material, for example, ITO (indiumtin oxide) or ATO (antimony tin oxide) including tin oxide SnO₂ andindium oxide In₂O₃. However, this configuration is merely an example,and the driving electrodes TX1 to TXm and the touch signal detectionelectrodes RX1 to RXn may be made of another transparent electricallyconductive material or an opaque electrically conductive material. Forexample, the driving electrodes TX1 to TXm and the touch signaldetection electrodes RX1 to RXn may include at least one of silver ink,copper, nano silver, and carbon nanotube (CNT).

The driving electrodes TX1 to TXm and the touch signal detectionelectrodes RX1 to RXn may be implemented as a metal mesh. When thedriving electrodes TX1 to TXm and the touch signal detection electrodesRX1 to RXn are implemented as a metal mesh, wires connected to thedriving electrodes TX1 to TXm and the touch signal detection electrodesRX1 to RXn may be implemented as a metal mesh, and the wire, the drivingelectrodes TX1 to TXm, and the touch signal detection electrodes RX1 toRXn may be integrally implemented as a metal mesh. When the wire, thedriving electrodes TX1 to TXm, and the touch signal detection electrodesRX1 to RXn are integrally implemented as a metal mesh, a dead zone, inwhich the touch position cannot be detected, such as a zone between theelectrode and the wire and/or between the electrode and anotherelectrode, is reduced, thereby further improving sensitivity indetecting the touch position.

The touch sensor is arranged based on the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX1 to RXn. Therefore, hereinafter, an arrangementstructure of the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 toRXn will be described first, and then an arrangement structure of theplurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm will be described.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn isdisposed in the plurality of columns A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, and A8,respectively. In this case, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 toTXm is arranged between the plurality of columns A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6,A7, and A8 in which the touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn arearranged, and the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm is arrangedoutside the first column Al and in the plurality of columns B1, B2, B3,B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, and B12 formed outside the eighthcolumn A8. However, the present invention may be equally/similarlyapplied even in the case in which the driving electrode column is thecolumn A and the touch signal detection electrode column is the column BThe two driving electrodes TX1 to TXm adjacent to both sides based onthe respective touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn of theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn have identicalcharacteristics. That is, the two driving electrodes TX1 to TXm adjacentto both sides based on the respective touch signal detection electrodesRX1 to RXn have an equal number. In this case, the configuration inwhich the two driving electrodes TX1 to TXm are identical to each otheror the two driving electrodes TX1 to TXm have an equal number means thatthe two driving electrodes TX1 to TXm are electrically connected to eachother through the wire. That is, the channels, which are identical toeach other, may be implemented.

The touch sensor includes one or more sets in which the plurality oftouch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXn and the plurality ofdriving electrodes TX1 to TXm are disposed in a predeterminedarrangement. The plurality of sets may be configured and repeatedlyarranged in the row direction and the column direction.

One set may include the plurality of different touch signal detectionelectrodes RX1 to RXn. For example, one set may include the eightreceiving electrodes including the 0th receiving electrode RX0 to theseventh receiving electrode RX7. The eight receiving electrodes RX0,RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, and RX7 may be disposed in a predeterminedarrangement. The eight receiving electrodes including the 0th receivingelectrode RX0 to the eighth touch signal detection electrodes RX1 to RXnare divided into four columns A1, A2, A3, and A4 continuously disposedin the row direction. Therefore, the two receiving electrodes may bedisposed from above to below in the four columns, respectively.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes having continuousnumbers is disposed in the respective columns In this case, thearrangement order of the odd-numbered columns A1 and A3 may be oppositeto the arrangement order of the even-numbered columns A2 and A4. Forexample, the touch signal detection electrodes RX0 and RX1 havingcontinuous numbers are sequentially arranged in the first column A1 fromabove to below, the touch signal detection electrodes RX2 and RX3 havingcontinuous numbers are sequentially arranged in the second column A2from below to above, the touch signal detection electrodes RX4 and RX5having continuous numbers are sequentially arranged in the third columnA3 from above to below, and the touch signal detection electrodes RX6and RX7 having continuous numbers are sequentially arranged in thefourth column A4 from below to above. In this case, although notillustrated in the drawings, the plurality of different touch signaldetection electrodes included in one set may be randomly arrangedwithout being sequentially arranged in the row or column direction.

Meanwhile, the touch sensor includes the plurality of driving electrodesTX1 to TXm, and for example, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 toTXm may include the 0th driving electrode TX0 to the fifteenth drivingelectrode TX15. In this case, the respective driving electrodes may bedisposed to satisfy the following arrangement conditions.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXm are arranged to satisfythe following conditions. 1) Based on the respective touch signaldetection electrodes RX1 to RXn, the four different driving electrodesare arranged at the left side, and the four different driving electrodesare arranged at the right side. 2) The two driving electrodes TX1 toTXm, which face each other based on the respective touch signaldetection electrodes RX1 to RXn, have an equal number. 3) The threedriving electrodes having an equal number are continuously arranged inthe row direction. 4) The eight driving electrodes adjacent to thereceiving electrodes RX1 in the even-numbered rows and the eight drivingelectrodes adjacent to the receiving electrodes RX0 in the odd-numberedrows are symmetrically arranged. 4) The length (horizontal length) ofthe driving electrodes arranged at both edges of each set and thedriving electrodes arranged at the center of each set is half the length(horizontal length) of other driving electrodes.

In FIG. 12, the first-1 touch signal detection electrode RX0 and thefirst-2 touch signal detection electrode RX1 may be disposed in thecolumn A1. In the second electrode column B2, the second-1′ drivingelectrode TX15, the second-2′ driving electrode TX8, the second-3′driving electrode TX7, and the second-4′ driving electrode TX0adjacently corresponding to the second-1 driving electrode TX0, thesecond-2 driving electrode TX7, the second-3 driving electrode TX8, thesecond-4 driving electrode TX15, and the first-2 touch signal detectionelectrode RX1 adjacently corresponding to the first-1 touch signaldetection electrode RX0 may be disposed. Further, the second-1 drivingelectrode TX0 and the second-4′ driving electrode TX0 may beelectrically connected to each other by using a second-1 trace, thesecond-2 driving electrode TX7 and the second-3′ driving electrode TX7may be electrically connected to each other by using a second-2 trace,the second-3 driving electrode TX8 and the second-2′ driving electrodeTX8 may be electrically connected to each other by using a second-3trace, and the second-4 driving electrode TX15 and the second-1′ drivingelectrode TX15 may be electrically connected to each other by using asecond-4 trace. Further, the mutual capacitance may be generated betweenthe first-1 touch signal detection electrode RX0 and the second-1driving electrode TX0, and the mutual capacitance may be generatedbetween the first-2 touch signal detection electrode RX1 and thesecond-1′ driving electrode TX15. Likewise, the mutual capacitance maybe generated between the first-1 touch signal detection electrode RX0and the second-2 driving electrode TX7, between the first-1 touch signaldetection electrode RX0 and the second-3 driving electrode TX8, andbetween the first-1 touch signal detection electrode RX0 and thesecond-4 driving electrode TX15. The mutual capacitance may be generatedbetween the first-2 touch signal detection electrode RX1 and thesecond-2′ driving electrode TX8, between the first-2 touch signaldetection electrode RX1 and the second-3′ driving electrode TX7, andbetween the first-2 touch signal detection electrode RX1 and thesecond-4′ driving electrode TX0.

That is, in the case of FIG. 12, at least two of the second electrodesTX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15 are disposed to be adjacently corresponding tothe first touch signal detection electrode RX0, at least two of theother second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15 are disposed to beadjacently corresponding to another first touch signal detectionelectrode RX1, and then the electrodes, which have an equal number amongat least two of the electrodes and at least two of the other electrodes,are connected by using one trace, such that the number of traces may bereduced in comparison with the structure in which all of the pluralityof driving electrodes corresponding to one touch signal detectionelectrode are connected by using different traces, as illustrated inFIG. 9.

FIG. 12 illustrates that some of the touch signal detection electrodesare used as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes. However,according to another exemplary embodiment, the principle described abovewith reference to FIG. 12 may be equally/similarly applied even in thecase in which the touch signal detection electrode and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode are physically separated fromeach other as separate electrodes.

In the latter case, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodecolumns may be disposed first and then the plurality of LGM disturbancesignal detection electrode columns may be disposed (or vice versa). Theprinciple described above with reference to FIG. 12 may beequally/similarly applied even in the case in which the respective touchsignal detection electrode columns and the respective LGM disturbancesignal detection electrode columns are alternately disposed (in the formof RX-LX-RX-LX).

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating raw data when an object such as a thumbcomes into contact with a specific part of the touch surface of thetouch input device having the structure of the touch sensor illustratedin FIG. 12. Specifically, FIG. 13 illustrates raw data when the touchinput device having the structure of the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 12 is in the floating state.

Referring to FIG. 13, it is ascertained that the digital values (or thelevel values) outputted from the specific part in the floating statehave relatively larger integer values than those in other parts.

With the comparison between the raw data illustrated in FIG. 13 and theraw data illustrated in FIG. 11B, it can be ascertained that in thefloating state, the structure of the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12improve the LGM more than the structure of the touch sensor illustratedin FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a graph approximately comparing LGM performances of the touchsensors illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12.

Referring to FIG. 14, in the case of the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 10, the relatively large level values, among the level values inthe touch region, have a value of approximately +250 in the grippedstate, but the relatively large level values have a value of −100 to+100 in the floating state.

Meanwhile, in the case of the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12, therelatively large level values, among the level values in the touchregion, have a level value of approximately +250 in the gripped state,but the relatively large level values have a value of +70 to +170 in thefloating state.

According to the graph in FIG. 14, the touch input device having thetouch sensor illustrated in FIG. 10 cannot accurately recognize whetherthe touch is made and the touch position in the floating state. However,because the touch input device having the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 12 has the relatively large level values of +70 or more even in thefloating state, there is no problem when the touch input device havingthe touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12 recognizes whether the touch ismade and the touch position. However, the configuration in which even inthe floating state, the relatively large level values +250 areoutputted, like in the gripped state or similar to the gripped state inwhich the relatively large level value is +250, is very important whenthe touch input device recognizes whether the touch is made and/or thetouch position.

Hereinafter, the touch sensor and the touch input device including thetouch sensor, which are capable of allowing the touch input devicehaving the touch sensor (1-layer) illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 and thetouch sensor having the double layer (2 layer) illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3 as well as the touch sensor (1-layer) illustrated in FIG. 12 tooutput the signal level value in the floating state (floating (finaldata)), like or similar to the signal level value outputted in thegripped state, will be described in detail with reference to thedrawings.

The touch sensor having the single layer or double layer structure maybe applied even to any one of the features illustrated in FIGS. 4A to4E. That is, the method to be described below may be applied to thetouch sensors having all currently known structures and the touch inputdevice including the same. In addition, although not illustrated in aseparate drawing, in the touch sensor having the double layer structure,one of the plurality of driving electrodes and the plurality ofreceiving electrodes may be disposed between the touch surface and thedisplay panel, and another of the plurality of driving electrodes andthe plurality of receiving electrodes may be disposed in the displaypanel.

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention is not applied only tothe touch input device having the touch sensor illustrated in FIGS. 2,3, 9, 10, and 12, but may also be applied to the touch input devicehaving the touch sensor having another single layer structure or adouble layer structure which is not illustrated in the presentspecification. As another specific example, the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may also be applied to the touch input devicehaving the touch sensor illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an enlarged part of still another examplein which the touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1A is formed to have asingle layer (1-layer). However, in FIG. 1A, it is assumed that thetouch signal detection electrode and the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode are physically separated as separate electrodes.However, in FIG. 15, some of the touch signal detection electrodes mayfunction as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes.

Referring to FIG. 15, the touch sensor according to the exemplaryembodiment includes the plurality of driving electrodes TX and theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX. The plurality ofdriving electrodes TX and the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX are arranged in the form of matrix.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX and the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX may be made of a transparent electricallyconductive material, for example, ITO (indium tin oxide) or ATO(antimony tin oxide) including tin oxide SnO₂ and indium oxide In₂O₃.However, this configuration is merely an example, and the drivingelectrodes TX and the touch signal detection electrodes RX may be madeof another transparent electrically conductive material or an opaqueelectrically conductive material. For example, the driving electrodes TXand the touch signal detection electrodes RX may include at least one ofsilver ink, copper, nano silver, and carbon nanotube (CNT).

The driving electrodes TX and the touch signal detection electrodes RXmay be implemented as a metal mesh. When the driving electrodes TX andthe touch signal detection electrodes RX are implemented as a metalmesh, a wire connected to the driving electrodes TX and the touch signaldetection electrodes RX may be implemented as a metal mesh, and thewire, the driving electrode TX and the touch signal detection electrodeRX may also be integrally implemented as a metal mesh. When the wire,the driving electrodes TX, and the touch signal detection electrode RXare integrally implemented as a metal mesh, a dead zone, in which thetouch position cannot be detected, such as a zone between the electrodeand the wire and/or between the electrode and another electrode, isreduced, thereby further improving sensitivity in detecting the touchposition.

The touch sensor according to the exemplary embodiment is arranged basedon the plurality of driving electrodes TX. Therefore, hereinafter, anarrangement structure of the plurality of driving electrodes TX disposedin the columns B1 to B16 will be described first, and then anarrangement structure of the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX will be described.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX is disposed in the plurality ofcolumns B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14,B15, and B16, respectively. In this case, the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX is arranged between the plurality of columns B1,B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, and B16 inwhich the driving electrodes TX are arranged, and the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes RX is arranged outside the first column B1and in the plurality of columns A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10,A11, A12, A13, A14, A15, and A16 formed outside the sixteenth columnB16. However, the present invention may be equally/similarly appliedeven in the case in which the driving electrode column is the column Aand the touch signal detection electrode column is the column B.

The two touch signal detection electrodes RX adjacent to both sidesbased on each of the plurality of driving electrodes TX have differentcharacteristics. That is, the two touch signal detection electrodes RXadjacent to both sides based on each of the driving electrodes TX havedifferent numbers. In this case, the configuration in which the twotouch signal detection electrodes RX are different from each other orthe two touch signal detection electrodes RX have different numbersmeans that the two touch signal detection electrodes RX are connectedthrough different traces.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX includes a first set (Set 1) inwhich the thirty-two driving electrodes including the 0th drivingelectrode TX0 to the thirty-first driving electrode TX31 are disposed ina first arrangement, and a second set (Set 2) in which the thirty-twodriving electrodes including the 0th driving electrode TX0 to thethirty-first driving electrode TX31 are disposed in a secondarrangement.

The two first sets (Set 1) may be continuously provided in the rowdirection, and the two first sets (Set 1) may be continuously providedin the column direction. The first set (Set 1) positioned in theeven-numbered row and the first set (Set 1) positioned in theodd-numbered row may be symmetric.

The two second sets (Set 2) may be continuously provided in the rowdirection, and the two second sets (Set 2) may be continuously providedin the column direction. The second set (Set 2) positioned in theeven-numbered row and the second set (Set 2) positioned in theodd-numbered row may be symmetric.

The plurality of second sets may be disposed at one side of theplurality of first sets.

In the first arrangement of the first set (Set 1), the thirty-twodriving electrodes including the 0th driving electrode TX0 to thethirty-first driving electrode TX31 are arranged and divided into thefour columns continuously disposed in the row direction, the drivingelectrodes having numbers of 0 to 7 are arranged in the first column inthe order of TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, and TX7 from above tobelow, the driving electrodes having numbers of 8 to 15 are arranged inthe second column in the order of TX15, TX14, TX13, TX12, TX11, TX10,TX9, and TX8 from above to below, the driving electrodes having numbersof 16 to 23 are arranged in the third column in the order of TX16, TX17,TX18, TX19, TX20, TX21, TX22, and TX23 from above to below, and thedriving electrodes having numbers of 24 to 31 are arranged in the fourthcolumn in the order of TX31, TX30, TX29, TX28, TX27, TX26, TX25, andTX24 from above to below.

In the second arrangement of the second set (Set 2), the thirty-twodriving electrodes including the 0th driving electrode TX0 to thethirty-first driving electrode TX31 are arranged and divided into thefour columns continuously disposed in the row direction, the drivingelectrodes having numbers of 16 to 23 are arranged in the first columnin the order of TX16, TX17, TX18, TX19, TX20, TX21, TX22, and TX23 fromabove to below, the driving electrodes having numbers of 24 to 31 arearranged in the second column in the order of TX31, TX30, TX29, TX28,TX27, TX26, TX25, and TX24 from above to below, the driving electrodeshaving numbers of 0 to 7 are arranged in the third column in the orderof TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TXS, TX6, and TX7 from above to below, andthe driving electrodes having numbers of 8 to 15 are arranged in thefourth column in the order of TX15, TX14, TX13, TX12, TX11, TX10, TX9,and TX8 from above to below.

Meanwhile, the touch sensor according to the exemplary embodimentincludes the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX. Forexample, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX mayinclude the 0th touch signal detection electrode RX0 to the fifteenthtouch signal detection electrode RX15. In this case, the respectivetouch signal detection electrodes may be disposed to satisfy thefollowing arrangement conditions.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX is arranged tosatisfy the following conditions. 1) Based on the eight differentdriving electrodes TX continuously disposed in the column direction, onetouch signal detection electrode is disposed at the left side, and onetouch signal detection electrode is disposed at the right side. 2) Thetwo touch signal detection electrodes RX, which face each other based onthe eight different driving electrodes TX continuously disposed in thecolumn direction, have different numbers. 3) The two different touchsignal detection electrodes RX are arranged in the column direction, andthe eight different touch signal detection electrodes RX are repeatedlyarranged in the row direction. 4) The length (horizontal length) of thetouch signal detection electrodes arranged in the column direction atboth edges may be equal to the length (horizontal length) of other touchsignal detection electrodes, but the present invention is not limitedthereto, and the length (horizontal length) of the touch signaldetection electrodes may be half the length (horizontal length) of othertouch signal detection electrodes.

In the case of FIG. 15, according to the exemplary embodiment, it ispossible to obtain only the value of the amount of change in pure mutualcapacitance by subtracting the signal value outputted from the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrode used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode from the signal value outputtedfrom the predetermined touch signal detection electrode.

According to another exemplary embodiment, even in the case in which thetouch signal detection electrode and the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode are physically separated as separate electrodes, thefeature described above with reference to FIG. 15 may beequally/similarly applied.

In the latter case, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodecolumns may be disposed first and then the plurality of LGM disturbancesignal detection electrode columns may be disposed (or vice versa). Thefeature described above with reference to FIG. 15 may beequally/similarly applied even in the case in which the respective touchsignal detection electrode columns and the respective LGM disturbancesignal detection electrode columns are alternately disposed (in the formof RX-LX-RX-LX).

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an enlarged part of still yet anotherexample in which the touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1A is formed tohave a single layer (1-layer). However, in FIG. 1A, it is assumed thatthe touch signal detection electrode and the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode are physically separated as separate electrodes.However, in FIG. 16, some of the touch signal detection electrodes mayfunction as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes.

Referring to FIG. 16, the touch sensor according to the exemplaryembodiment includes the plurality of driving electrodes TX and theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX. The plurality ofdriving electrodes TX and the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX are arranged in the form of a matrix.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX and the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX may be made of a transparent electricallyconductive material, for example, ITO (indium tin oxide) or ATO(antimony tin oxide) including tin oxide SnO₂ and indium oxide In₂O₃.However, this configuration is merely an example, and the drivingelectrodes TX and the touch signal detection electrodes RX may be madeof another transparent electrically conductive material or an opaqueelectrically conductive material. For example, the driving electrodes TXand the touch signal detection electrodes RX may include at least one ofsilver ink, copper, nano silver, and carbon nanotube (CNT).

The driving electrodes TX and the touch signal detection electrodes RXmay be implemented as a metal mesh. When the driving electrodes TX andthe touch signal detection electrodes RX are implemented as a metalmesh, a wire connected to the driving electrodes TX and the touch signaldetection electrodes RX may be implemented as a metal mesh, and thewire, the driving electrode TX and the touch signal detection electrodeRX may also be integrally implemented as a metal mesh. When the wire,the driving electrodes TX, and the touch signal detection electrode RXare integrally implemented as a metal mesh, a dead zone, in which thetouch position cannot be detected, such as a zone between the electrodeand the wire and/or between the electrode and another electrode, isreduced, thereby further improving sensitivity in detecting the touchposition.

The touch sensor according to the exemplary embodiment is arranged basedon the plurality of driving electrodes TX. Therefore, hereinafter, anarrangement structure of the plurality of driving electrodes TX disposedin the columns B1 to B16 will be described first, and then anarrangement structure of the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX will be described.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX is disposed in the plurality ofcolumns B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14,B15, and B16, respectively. In this case, the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX is arranged between the plurality of columns B1,B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, and B16 inwhich the driving electrodes TX are arranged, and the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes RX is arranged outside the first column B1and in the plurality of columns A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10,A11, A12, A13, A14, A15, and A16 formed outside the sixteenth columnB16. However, the present invention may be equally/similarly appliedeven in the case in which the driving electrode column is the column Aand the touch signal detection electrode column is the column B.

The two touch signal detection electrodes RX adjacent to both sidesbased on each of the plurality of driving electrodes TX have differentcharacteristics. That is, the two touch signal detection electrodes RXadjacent to both sides based on each of the driving electrodes TX havedifferent numbers. In this case, the configuration in which the twotouch signal detection electrodes RX are different from each other orthe two touch signal detection electrodes RX have different numbersmeans that the two touch signal detection electrodes RX are connectedthrough different traces.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX includes the set in which thethirty-two driving electrodes including the 0th driving electrode TX0 tothe thirty-first driving electrode TX31 are disposed in the firstarrangement. In this case, the plurality of sets may be repeatedlyarranged in the row direction and the column direction. The setpositioned in the even-numbered row and the set positioned in theodd-numbered row may be symmetric.

In the first arrangement of each of the sets, the thirty-two drivingelectrodes including the 0th driving electrode TX0 to the thirty-firstdriving electrode TX31 are arranged in the four columns continuouslydisposed in the row direction, the driving electrodes having numbers of0 to 7 are arranged in the first column in the order of TX0, TX1, TX2,TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, and TX7 from above to below, the driving electrodeshaving numbers of 8 to 15 are arranged in the second column in the orderof TX15, TX14, TX13, TX12, TX11, TX10, TX9, and TX8 from above to below,the driving electrodes having numbers of 16 to 23 are arranged in thethird column in the order of TX16, TX17, TX18, TX19, TX20, TX21, TX22,and TX23 from above to below, and the driving electrodes having numbersof 24 to 31 are arranged in the fourth column in the order of TX31,TX30, TX29, TX28, TX27, TX26, TX25, and TX24 from above to below.

Meanwhile, the touch sensor according to the exemplary embodimentincludes the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX. Forexample, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX mayinclude the 0th touch signal detection electrode RX0 to the thirty-firsttouch signal detection electrode RX31. In this case, the respectivetouch signal detection electrodes may be disposed to satisfy thefollowing arrangement conditions.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX is arranged tosatisfy the following conditions. 1) Based on the eight differentdriving electrodes TX continuously disposed in the column direction, onetouch signal detection electrode is arranged at the left side, and onetouch signal detection electrode is arranged at the right side. 2) Thetwo touch signal detection electrodes RX, which face each other based onthe eight different driving electrodes TX continuously disposed in thecolumn direction, have different numbers. 3) The two different touchsignal detection electrodes are arranged in the column direction, andthe sixteen different touch signal detection electrodes are repeatedlyarranged in the row direction. 4) The length (horizontal length) of thetouch signal detection electrodes arranged in the column direction atboth edges may be equal to the length (horizontal length) of other touchsignal detection electrodes, but the present invention is not limitedthereto, and the length (horizontal length) of the touch signaldetection electrodes may be half the length (horizontal length) of othertouch signal detection electrodes.

In the case of FIG. 16, according to the exemplary embodiment, it ispossible to obtain only the value of the amount of change in pure mutualcapacitance by subtracting the signal value outputted from the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrode used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode from the signal value outputtedfrom the predetermined touch signal detection electrode.

According to another exemplary embodiment, even in the case in which thetouch signal detection electrode and the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode are physically separated as separate electrodes, thefeature described above with reference to FIG. 16 may beequally/similarly applied.

In the latter case, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodecolumns may be disposed first and then the plurality of LGM disturbancesignal detection electrode columns may be disposed (or vice versa). Thefeature described above with reference to FIG. 16 may beequally/similarly applied even in the case in which the respective touchsignal detection electrode columns and the respective LGM disturbancesignal detection electrode columns are alternately disposed (in the formof RX-LX-RX-LX).

FIG. 17 is an illustrative conceptual view illustrating a conceptualizedtouch sensor according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. However, in FIG. 1A, it is assumed that the touch signaldetection electrode and the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodeare physically separated as separate electrodes. However, in FIG. 17,some of the touch signal detection electrodes may function as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes.

Referring to FIG. 17, the touch sensor according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes the plurality of drivingelectrodes TX0 to TX7 and the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0 to RX7. In this case, the plurality of driving electrodesTX0 to TX7 and the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX0 toRX7 may be formed on the single layer as illustrated in FIG. 10 or 12 orformed on the double layer as illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3.

The touch sensor according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, which includes the plurality of driving electrodes TX0 to TX7and the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX7,includes nodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm between the pluralityof driving electrodes TX0 to TX7 and the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 to RX7, and nodes that do not form the mutualcapacitance Cm.

For example, in FIG. 17, the nodes, which form the mutual capacitanceCm, are (Tx0, Rx0), (Tx0, Rx1), (Tx0, Rx2), (Tx0, Rx3), (Tx1, Rx4),(Tx1, Rx5), (Tx1, Rx6), (Tx1, Rx7), (Tx2, Rx0), (Tx2, Rx1), (Tx2, Rx2),(Tx2, Rx3), (Tx3, Rx4), (Tx3, Rx5), (Tx3, Rx6), (Tx3, Rx7), (Tx4, Rx0),(Tx4, Rx1), (Tx4, Rx2), (Tx4, Rx3), (Tx5, Rx4), (Tx5, Rx5), (Tx5, Rx6),(Tx5, Rx7), (Tx6, Rx0), (Tx6, Rx1), (Tx6, Rx2), (Tx6, Rx3), (Tx7, Rx4),(Tx7, Rx5), (Tx7, Rx6), and (Tx7, Rx7).

The detection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes of the nodes, which form the mutual capacitance Cm,includes noise information as well as information about the amount ofchange in capacitance made by the touch of the object. In this case, thenoise information includes information about the amount of change incapacitance made by the LGM disturbance signal generated in the floatingstate. Therefore, when the detection signal received from each of thetouch signal detection electrodes of the nodes, which form the mutualcapacitance Cm, is converted into the predetermined level value and thenoutputted, the outputted level value made by reflecting the informationabout the amount of change in mutual capacitance and the noiseinformation.

Meanwhile, in FIG. 17, the nodes, which do not form the mutualcapacitance Cm, are (Tx0, Rx4), (Tx0, Rx5), (Tx0, Rx6), (Tx0, Rx7),(Tx1, Rx0), (Tx1, Rx1), (Tx1, Rx2), (Tx1, Rx3), (Tx2, Rx4), (Tx2, Rx5),(Tx2, Rx6), (Tx2, Rx7), (Tx3, Rx0), (Tx3, Rx1), (Tx3, Rx2), (Tx3, Rx3),(Tx4, Rx4), (Tx4, Rx5), (Tx4, Rx6), (Tx4, Rx7), (Tx5, Rx0), (Tx5, Rx1),(Tx5, Rx2), (Tx5, Rx3), (Tx6, Rx4), (Tx6, Rx5), (Tx6, Rx6), (Tx6, Rx7),(Tx7, Rx0), (Tx7, Rx1), (Tx7, Rx2), and (Tx7, Rx3).

The detection signal outputted from the other predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes of the nodes, which do not form the mutualcapacitance Cm, may include only the noise information. That is, theother predetermined touch signal detection electrodes may be used as theLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes.

Therefore, the touch input device according to the exemplary embodimentof the present invention having the touch sensor may remove the noiseinformation and obtain the information about the amount of change incapacitance made by the touch of the object by subtracting the detectionsignal (the second detection signal) outputted from the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes of the nodes, which donot form the mutual capacitance Cm, from the detection signal (the firstdetection signal) outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes of the nodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm.Therefore, a digital value (or a signal level value) corresponding to afinal detection signal made by subtracting the detection signaloutputted from the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodesof the nodes, which do not form the mutual capacitance Cm, from thedetection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signal detectionelectrodes of the nodes, which form the mutual capacitance Cm by thetouch input device, is a value made based on the information about theamount of change in capacitance made by the touch of the object. As aresult, even though the touch input device is in the floating state, itis possible to output the digital value equal to or almost similar tothe digital value outputted in the gripped state.

In this case, more particularly, the touch input device according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention may subtract a value madeby multiplying a predetermined factor and the detection signal (thesecond detection signal) outputted from the other predetermined touchsignal detection electrodes of the nodes, which do not form the mutualcapacitance Cm, from the detection signal (the first detection signal)outputted from the predetermined touch signal detection electrodes ofthe nodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm. The reason why the seconddetection signal is multiplied by the factor is to compensate for achange in dimension of the detection signal that may be caused by astructural difference between an active channel and a dummy channel Forexample, the factor may have a predetermined value such as 0.8, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and the value of the factormay vary in accordance with design.

Hereinafter, a specific example will be described with reference toFIGS. 18 to 24.

FIG. 18 is a conceptual view illustrating a conceptualized touch sensoraccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventionillustrated in FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 18, the touch sensor according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes the plurality of drivingelectrodes TX0 to TX7 and the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0 to RX7. No mutual capacitance may be detected from atleast some of the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX0 toRX7.

In this case, which touch signal detection electrodes among theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX7 are used asthe LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes is determined based onthe driving electrodes to which the driving signal is applied.

For example, when the driving signal is applied to the 0th drivingelectrode TX0, the fourth touch signal detection electrode Rx4, thefifth touch signal detection electrode Rx5, the sixth touch signaldetection electrode Rx6, and the seventh touch signal detectionelectrode Rx7, among the plurality of touch signal detection electrodesRx0 to Rx7, are used as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes.In other words, when the driving signal is applied to the 0th drivingelectrode Tx0, the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh touch signaldetection electrodes Rx4, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7 are used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes that do not form the mutualcapacitance Cm with the 0th driving electrode Tx0, and the 0th, first,second, and third touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, andRx3 are used as the touch signal detection electrodes that form themutual capacitance Cm with the 0th driving electrode Tx0.

If the driving signal is applied to the first driving electrode Tx1, thefourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh touch signal detection electrodes Rx4,Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7 are used as the touch signal detection electrodes thatform the mutual capacitance Cm with the first driving electrode Tx1, andthe 0th, first, second, and third touch signal detection electrodes Rx0,Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3 are used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes that do not form the mutual capacitance Cm with the firstdriving electrode Tx1.

The touch input device according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention having the touch sensor may remove the informationabout the amount of change in capacitance made by the noise information,particularly, the LGM disturbance signal by subtracting the detectionsignal outputted from the other predetermined touch signal detectionelectrodes of the nodes, which do not form the mutual capacitance Cm,from the detection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes of the nodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm.In this case, the touch input device according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention having the touch sensor may subtracta value made by multiplying a predetermined factor and the detectionsignal outputted from the other predetermined touch signal detectionelectrodes of the nodes, which do not form the mutual capacitance Cm,from the detection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes of the nodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm.

FIG. 19A is an illustrative view for explaining a case in which some ofthe plurality of touch signal detection electrodes of the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 12 are used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes. In FIG. 19A, the principle described above with reference toFIG. 12 may be equally/similarly applied, and the principle describedabove with reference to FIG. 17 may be equally/similarly applied.

In particular, referring to FIG. 19A, when the driving signal is appliedto the first driving electrode Tx1, the touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx4, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7 disposed to be adjacent to the firstdriving electrode Tx1 may be used as the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm with the firstdriving electrode Tx1, and the touch signal detection electrodes Rx0,Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3 disposed to be spaced apart from the first drivingelectrode Tx1 at a predetermined distance may be defined as the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes that do not form the mutualcapacitance Cm with the first driving electrode Tx1. Specifically, inFIG. 19A, the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodes RX0,RX1, RX2, and Rx3 used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes are spaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1 at apredetermined distance, thereby satisfying the condition in which themutual capacitance Cm need not be formed and the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, and Rx3 are connectedto the predetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx4, Rx5, Rx6,and Rx7 with different channels. In this case, the connection with thedifferent channels means that the channel having an electrode number,which is not coincident with electrode numbers provided to thepredetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx4, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7,is connected.

The detection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes Rx4, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7 includes the noiseinformation as well as the information about the amount of change incapacitance made by the touch of the object. In this case, the noiseinformation includes the information about the amount of change incapacitance made by the LGM disturbance signal generated in the floatingstate. Therefore, when the detection signal outputted from the touchsignal detection electrodes Rx4, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7 is converted into thepredetermined level value by the touch signal detection unit 11 a of thetouch input device and outputted, the outputted level value made byreflecting the information about the amount of change in mutualcapacitance and the noise information.

In contrast, the detection signal outputted from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, and Rx3 used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes includes only the noiseinformation while including almost no information about the amount ofchange in capacitance made by the touch of the object.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain only the value of the amount ofchange in pure mutual capacitance by subtracting the signal valueoutputted from the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodeused as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrode from the signalvalue outputted from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode.

In particular, in the case of FIG. 19A, a sum of areas of the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes may be almost equal to a sum ofareas of the predetermined touch signal detection electrodes.

Because a magnitude of the detected signal is proportional to an area ofthe electrode, the above-mentioned configuration is to allow a magnitudeof the LGM disturbance signal detected from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode and a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode to beequal to each other maximally, thereby completely removing the LGMdisturbance signal during the process of removing the LGM disturbancesignal.

Meanwhile, in the case of FIG. 19A, in order to allow the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3used as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes to includealmost no information about the amount of change in capacitance made bythe touch of the object, any driving electrode disposed between thepredetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx4, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7and the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1,Rx2, and Rx3 used as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes maybe set to be grounded GND. Alternatively, the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes RX4, RX5, RX6, and RX7 may be set to be groundedGND.

In FIG. 19B (illustrating a part of FIG. 19A), the principle describedabove with reference to FIG. 19A may be equally/similarly applied, butFIG. 19B illustrates that the physically separate LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes are individually disposed. In this case, theconfiguration in which the physically separate LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode is disposed means that the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode is disposed in addition to the touch signaldetection electrode illustrated in FIG. 19A. Therefore, because theseparate trace corresponding to the touch signal detection electrode isadded even in the case of the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode, the number of traces is increased in comparison with FIG.19A.

In particular, referring to FIG. 19B, when the driving signal is appliedto the first driving electrode Tx1, the touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx4 and Rx7 disposed to be adjacent to the first drivingelectrode Tx1 form the mutual capacitance Cm with the first drivingelectrode Tx1, and the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1and LX2 disposed to be spaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1at a predetermined distance do not form the mutual capacitance Cm withthe first driving electrode Tx1.

The detection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes Rx4 and Rx7 includes the noise information as wellas the information about the amount of change in capacitance made by thetouch of the object. In this case, the noise information includes theinformation about the amount of change in capacitance made by the LGMdisturbance signal generated in the floating state. Therefore, when thedetection signal outputted from the touch signal detection electrodesRx4 and Rx7 is converted into the predetermined level value by the touchsignal detection unit 11 a of the touch input device and outputted, theoutputted level value made by reflecting the information about theamount of change in mutual capacitance and the noise information.

In contrast, the detection signal outputted from the LGM disturbancesignal detection electrodes LX1 and LX2 includes only the noiseinformation while including almost no information about the amount ofchange in capacitance made by the touch of the object.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain only the value of the amount ofchange in pure mutual capacitance by subtracting the signal valueoutputted from the LGM disturbance signal detection electrode from thesignal value outputted from the predetermined touch signal detectionelectrode.

In the case of FIG. 19B, the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodesLX1 and LX2 may be disposed in the touch signal detection electrodes Rx4and Rx7. The LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 and LX2 mayserve to reduce base capacitance of the touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx4 and Rx7. The LGM disturbance signal detection electrodesLX1 and LX2 may be disposed such that the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes LX1 and LX2 and the touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx4 and Rx7 are spaced apart from one another at apredetermined distance by holes H by forming the touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx4 and Rx7 as a metal mesh and then cutting or removing apart of an inner portion of each of the touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx4 and Rx7.

In the case of FIG. 19A, the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodeand the touch signal detection electrode are disposed at differentpositions, that is, to configure different touch coordinates. However,in the case of FIG. 19B, a coordinate center point of the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode and a coordinate center point ofthe touch signal detection electrode are coincident with one another,thereby more effectively removing the LGM disturbance signal incomparison with the arrangement form illustrated in FIG. 19A.

In the case of FIG. 19B, a sum of the areas of the plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX1 and LX2 may be almost equalto a sum of the areas of the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX4 and RX7. Because a magnitude of the detected signal isproportional to an area of the electrode, the above-mentionedconfiguration is to allow a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX1 and LX2 and a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX4 andRX7 to be equal to each other maximally, thereby completely removing theLGM disturbance signal during the process of removing the LGMdisturbance signal.

FIGS. 20A-20C are illustrative views illustrating raw data outputtedfrom the touch input device having the touch sensor according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 12.The raw data illustrated in FIG. 20A are identical to the raw dataillustrated in FIG. 13. That is, the raw data illustrated in FIG. 13 areraw data made based on the detection signal outputted from thepredetermined touch signal detection electrodes of the nodes that formthe mutual capacitance Cm in the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12,and the raw data illustrated in FIG. 20B are raw data made based on thedetection signal outputted from the other predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes of the nodes that do not form the mutualcapacitance Cm in the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 20C illustrates raw data made by subtracting the detection signaloutputted from the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodesof the nodes, which do not form the mutual capacitance Cm, from thedetection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signal detectionelectrodes of the nodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm.

With the comparison between the raw data illustrated in FIG. 20C and theraw data illustrated in FIG. 20A, it can be ascertained that the digitalvalues (or the level values) of the raw data illustrated in FIG. 20C inthe touch region in which the touch is made by the actual object arerelatively larger than the digital values (or the level values) of thecorresponding part illustrated in FIG. 20A. That is, it can beascertained that the center part of the touch region has a level valueof approximately +250 or more, and the touch input device may obtain theequal or similar level values even in the floating state in comparisonwith the gripped state.

Although separate raw data are not illustrated, the raw data made bysubtracting a value, which is made by multiplying a predetermined factorand the detection signal outputted from the other predetermined touchsignal detection electrodes of the nodes which do not form the mutualcapacitance Cm, from the detection signal outputted from thepredetermined touch signal detection electrodes of the nodes that formthe mutual capacitance Cm may be derived similar to FIG. 20C.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual view illustrating a conceptualized touch sensoraccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention having abridge structure.

For reference, even in the case of FIG. 21, the feature described abovewith reference to FIG. 17 may be equally/similarly applied, but it isassumed that any receiving electrode does not function as the touchsignal detection electrode or the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode, and the touch signal detection electrode and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode are physically divided.

Referring to FIG. 21, the touch sensor according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes the plurality of drivingelectrodes TX0 to TX7 and the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0 to RX3. In addition, the touch sensor according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes the plurality ofLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX0 to LX3.

The mutual capacitance Cm is formed between the plurality of drivingelectrodes TX0 to TX7 and the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0 to RX3, but the mutual capacitance Cm is not formedbetween the plurality of driving electrodes TX0 to TX7 and the pluralityof LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX0 to LX3. In this case,actually, insignificant mutual capacitance may be formed between theplurality of driving electrodes TX0 to TX7 and the plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX0 to LX3, but theinsignificant mutual capacitance may be ignored when whether the touchis made is detected.

The touch input device according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention having the touch sensor may remove the informationabout the amount of change in capacitance made by the noise information,particularly, the LGM disturbance signal by subtracting the detectionsignal outputted from the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes ofthe nodes, which do not form the mutual capacitance Cm, from thedetection signal outputted from the touch signal detection electrodes ofthe nodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm. In this case, the touchinput device according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention having the touch sensor may subtract a value made bymultiplying a predetermined factor and the detection signal outputtedfrom the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes of the nodes, whichdo not form the mutual capacitance Cm, from the detection signaloutputted from the touch signal detection electrodes of the nodes thatform the mutual capacitance Cm.

FIG. 22 is a configuration view of the touch sensor according to anexample in which a conceptual view of the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 21 may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 22, the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2,and Tx3 is arranged in parallel in a horizontal direction, and theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx1 is arrangedin parallel in a vertical direction.

The plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 and theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx1 each have adiamond shape, and the two adjacent driving electrodes and the twoadjacent touch signal detection electrodes are electrically connected toone another through conductive connecting parts.

The plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 and theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx1 may beimplemented as a metal mesh. In this case, the conductive connectingpart for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2,and Tx3 may also be implemented as a metal mesh. The conductiveconnecting part for connecting the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0,Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 may be implemented as a metal mesh or a conductivetrace.

The plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3 and theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx1 each havetherein a predetermined electrically insulated pattern. Thepredetermined pattern may be formed to reduce base capacitance of eachof the touch signal detection electrodes and the driving electrodes. Thepredetermined pattern may be formed by forming each of the drivingelectrodes and each of the touch signal detection electrodes as a metalmesh, and then cutting or removing a part of the metal mesh in each ofthe driving electrodes and each of the touch signal detectionelectrodes. In this case, each of the driving electrodes, each of thetouch signal detection electrodes, and the predetermined pattern may bespaced apart from one another at a predetermined distance by holes H.The plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX0 and LX1may be made by electrically connecting the predetermined patterns in theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx1. The mutualcapacitance Cm is formed because the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx0 and Rx1 is very adjacent to the plurality of drivingelectrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and Tx3. However, because the plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX0 and LX1 is positioned to berelatively distant from the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1,Tx2, and Tx3, the mutual capacitance Cm is formed to be negligiblysmall.

In particular, in the case of FIG. 22, a sum of the areas of theplurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX0 and LX1 maybe almost equal to a sum of the areas of the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 and RX1. Because a magnitude of the detectedsignal is proportional to an area of the electrode, the above-mentionedconfiguration is to allow a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX0 and LX1 and a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes RX0 andRX1 to be equal to each other maximally, thereby completely removing theLGM disturbance signal during the process of removing the LGMdisturbance signal.

In the case of FIG. 19A, the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodeand the touch signal detection electrode have an equal area, but aredisposed at different positions, that is, to configure different touchcoordinates. However, in the case of FIG. 22, the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode and the touch signal detection electrode have theequal area, and the coordinate center points of the electrodes arecoincident with one another, thereby more effectively removing the LGMdisturbance signal in comparison with the arrangement form illustratedin FIG. 19.

Meanwhile, in the case of FIG. 22, any touch signal detection electrode(e.g., RX0 and RX1) disposed between any driving electrode (e.g., TX3)and any LGM disturbance signal detection electrode (e.g., LX0 and LX1)may be set to be grounded (GND) so that any LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode (e.g., LX0 and LX1) has almost no information aboutthe amount of change in capacitance made by the touch of the object.

FIG. 23 is another conceptual view illustrating a conceptualized touchsensor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventionhaving a bridge structure. Referring to FIG. 23, the touch sensoraccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includesthe plurality of first driving electrodes TX0 to TX3 and the pluralityof touch signal detection electrodes RX0 to RX7. In addition, the touchsensor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventionincludes a plurality of second driving electrodes Mx0 to Mx3.

The mutual capacitance Cm is formed between the plurality of firstdriving electrodes TX0 to TX3 and the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the mutual capacitance Cm is notformed between the plurality of second driving electrodes Mx0 to Mx3 andthe plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 to Rx7. In thiscase, actually, insignificant mutual capacitance may be formed betweenthe plurality of second driving electrodes Mx0 to Mx3 and the pluralityof touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 to Rx7, but the insignificantmutual capacitance may be ignored when whether the touch is made isdetected.

The touch input device according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention having the touch sensor may remove the informationabout the amount of change in capacitance made by the noise information,particularly, the LGM disturbance signal by subtracting the detectionsignal outputted from the touch signal detection electrodes Rx of thenodes, which do not form the mutual capacitance Cm, from the detectionsignal outputted from the touch signal detection electrodes Rx of thenodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm. In this case, it is possibleto subtract a value made by multiplying a predetermined factor and thedetection signal outputted from the touch signal detection electrodes Rxof the nodes, which do not form the mutual capacitance Cm, from thedetection signal outputted from the touch signal detection electrodes Rxof the nodes that form the mutual capacitance Cm.

FIG. 24 is a configuration view of the touch sensor according to anexample in which a conceptual view of the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 23 may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 24, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodesRx0 and Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3 is arranged in parallel in the horizontaldirection, and the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1 isarranged in parallel in the vertical direction.

Each of the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx 1,Rx2, and Rx3 and the plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1has a diamond shape, and the two adjacent first driving electrodes andthe two adjacent touch signal detection electrodes are electricallyconnected to one another through the conductive connecting parts.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, andRx3 and the plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1 may beimplemented as a metal mesh. In this case, the conductive connectingpart for connecting the plurality of touch signal detection electrodesRx0, Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3 may also be implemented as a metal mesh. Theconductive connecting part for connecting the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3 may also be implemented as ametal mesh or a conductive trace.

Each of the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1,Rx2, and Rx3 and the plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1has therein a predetermined electrically insulated pattern. Thepredetermined pattern may be formed to reduce base capacitance of eachof the touch signal detection electrodes and the first drivingelectrodes. The predetermined pattern may be formed by forming each ofthe first driving electrodes and each of the touch signal detectionelectrodes as a metal mesh, and then cutting or removing a part of themetal mesh in each of the first driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1 and eachof the touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3. In thiscase, each of the first driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1, each of thetouch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3, and thepredetermined pattern may be spaced apart from one another at apredetermined distance by the holes H.

The plurality of second driving electrodes Mx0 and Mx1 may be made byelectrically connecting the predetermined patterns in the plurality offirst driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1. The mutual capacitance Cm isformed because the plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1 isvery adjacent to the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0,Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3. However, because the plurality of second drivingelectrodes Mx0 and Mx1 is positioned to be relatively distant from theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, and Rx3,the mutual capacitance Cm is formed to be negligibly small.

In particular, in the case of FIG. 24, a sum of areas of the pluralityof second driving electrodes Mx0 and Mx1 may be almost equal to a sum ofareas of the plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1. Becausea magnitude of the detected signal is proportional to an area of theelectrode, the above-mentioned configuration is to allow a magnitude ofthe LGM disturbance signal detected from the plurality of second drivingelectrodes Mx0 and Mx1 and a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1 tobe equal to each other maximally, thereby completely removing the LGMdisturbance signal during the process of removing the LGM disturbancesignal.

In the case of FIG. 24, the plurality of second driving electrodes andthe plurality of first driving electrodes have an equal area, and thecoordinate center points of the electrodes are coincident with oneanother, thereby more effectively removing the LGM disturbance signal incomparison with the arrangement form illustrated in FIG. 19.

Meanwhile, in the case of FIG. 24, any first driving electrode (e.g.,Tx0 and Tx1) disposed between any touch signal detection electrode(e.g., RX3) and any second driving electrode (e.g., MX0 and MX1) may beset to be grounded (GND) so that any second driving electrode (e.g., MX0and MX1) has almost no information about the amount of change incapacitance made by the touch of the object.

FIG. 25A is a configuration view of the touch sensor according toanother example in which a conceptual view of the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 21 may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 25A, the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 is arranged in parallel in the horizontaldirection, and the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and TX2 isarranged in parallel in the vertical direction. In this case, thevertical direction and the horizontal direction may be changed.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 andthe plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and TX2 each have a barshape.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 isformed on the first layer, and the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0,Tx1, and TX2 is formed on the second layer. The first layer and thesecond layer are not disposed on the same plane. For example, the firstlayer may be disposed above the second layer. An insulating layer may bedisposed between the first layer and the second layer.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 andthe plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and TX2 may be implementedas a metal mesh or conductive metal.

The touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 25A includes the plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2. The pluralityof LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2 isformed together on the layer on which the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 is formed, and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2 may bedisposed between the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0,Rx1, and Rx2.

The respective driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1, and Tx2 include a firstregion in which each of the driving electrodes Tx0 and Tx1, and Tx2overlaps each of the touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, andRx2, and a second region in which each of the driving electrodes Tx0 andTx1, and Tx2 overlaps each of the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2. In this case, a size of the first regionis larger than a size of the second region. In particular, the size ofthe second region may be as small as possible. This is for maximallyreducing the mutual capacitance between the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode and the driving electrode. Alternatively, under acondition in which the touch signal detection electrode and the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode have the same shape, a width ofthe first region in which the driving electrode overlaps the touchsignal detection electrode may be designed to be larger than a width ofthe second region in which the driving electrode overlaps the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode.

Since the region in which the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1,and TX2 overlaps the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0,Rx1, and Rx2 is relatively large, relatively large mutual capacitance Cmis formed. However, since the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1,and TX2 overlaps the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2 to the relatively small extent, the mutualcapacitance Cm is formed to be negligibly small between the plurality ofdriving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and TX2 and the plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2.

In particular, in the case of FIG. 25A, a sum of the areas of theplurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX0, LX1, andLX2 may be almost equal to a sum of the areas of the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes RX0, RX1, and RX2. Because a magnitude ofthe detected signal is proportional to an area of the electrode, theabove-mentioned configuration is to allow a magnitude of the LGMdisturbance signal detected from the plurality of LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2 and a magnitude of the LGMdisturbance signal detected from the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0, RX1, and RX2 to be equal to each other maximally,thereby completely removing the LGM disturbance signal during theprocess of removing the LGM disturbance signal.

Meanwhile, in the case of FIG. 25A, any touch signal detection electrode(e.g., RX0, RX1, and RX2) disposed between any driving electrode (e.g.,TX0) and any LGM disturbance signal detection electrode (e.g., LX0, LX1,and LX2) may be set to be grounded (GND) so that any LGM disturbancesignal detection electrode (e.g., LX0, LX1, and LX2) has almost noinformation about the amount of change in capacitance made by the touchof the object.

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 25A may beequally/similarly applied to FIG. 25B, but FIG. 25B illustrates anexemplary embodiment implemented such that the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode is disposed in the touch signal detection electrode.

In the case of FIG. 25B, the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodesLX0, LX1, and LX2 may be disposed in the touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0, RX1, and RX2. The LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2 may serve to reduce base capacitance of thetouch signal detection electrodes RX0, RX1, and RX2. The LGM disturbancesignal detection electrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2 may be disposed such thatthe LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2 andthe touch signal detection electrodes RX0, RX1, and RX2 are spaced apartfrom one another at a predetermined distance by forming the touch signaldetection electrodes RX0, RX1, and RX2 as a metal mesh and then cuttingor removing a part of an inner portion of each of the touch signaldetection electrodes RX0, RX1, and RX2.

In the case of FIG. 25B, the respective driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, andTx2 include the first region in which each of the driving electrodesTx0, Tx1, and Tx2 overlaps each of the touch signal detection electrodesRx0, Rx1, and Rx2, and the second region in which each of the drivingelectrodes Tx0, Tx1, and Tx2 overlaps each of the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2. In this case, a size of thefirst region is larger than a size of the second region. In particular,the size of the second region may be as small as possible. This is formaximally reducing the mutual capacitance between the LGM disturbancesignal detection electrode and the driving electrode. Alternatively,under a condition in which the touch signal detection electrode and theLGM disturbance signal detection electrode have the same shape, a widthof the first region in which the driving electrode overlaps the touchsignal detection electrode may be designed to be larger than a width ofthe second region in which the driving electrode overlaps the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode.

Since the region in which the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1,and TX2 overlaps the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0,Rx1, and Rx2 is relatively large, relatively large mutual capacitance Cmis formed. However, since the plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1,and TX2 overlaps the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2 to the relatively small extent, the mutualcapacitance Cm is formed to be negligibly small between the plurality ofdriving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and TX2 and the plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes LX0, LX1, and LX2.

FIG. 26 is a configuration view of the touch sensor according to anotherexample in which a conceptual view of the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 23 may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 26, the plurality of touch signal detection electrodesRx0, Rx1, and Rx2 is arranged in parallel in the vertical direction, andthe plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and Tx2 is arrangedin parallel in the horizontal direction. In this case, the verticaldirection and the horizontal direction may be changed.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 andthe plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and Tx2 each have abar shape.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 isformed on the first layer, and the plurality of first driving electrodesTx0, Tx1, and Tx2 is formed on the second layer. The first layer and thesecond layer are not disposed on the same plane. For example, the firstlayer may be disposed above the second layer. An insulating layer may bedisposed between the first layer and the second layer.

The plurality of touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 andthe plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and Tx2 may beimplemented as a metal mesh or conductive metal.

The touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 26 includes the plurality of seconddriving electrodes Mx0, Mx1, and MX2. The plurality of second drivingelectrodes Mx0, Mx1, and MX2 is formed together on the layer on whichthe plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and Tx2 is formed,and the second driving electrodes MX0, MX1, and MX2 may be disposedbetween the plurality of first driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and Tx2.

The respective touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2includes the first region in which each of the touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 overlaps each of the first drivingelectrodes Tx0, Tx1, and Tx2, and the second region in which each of thetouch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, and Rx2 overlaps each of thesecond driving electrodes MX0, MX1, and MX2. In this case, an area ofthe first region is larger than an area of the second region. Inparticular, the area of the second region may be as small as possible.This is for maximally reducing the mutual capacitance between the seconddriving electrode and the touch signal detection electrode.Alternatively, under a condition in which the touch signal detectionelectrodes have the same shape, a width of the first region in which thefirst driving electrode overlaps the touch signal detection electrodemay be designed to be larger than a width of the second region in whichthe second driving electrode overlaps the touch signal detectionelectrode.

Since the region in which each of the first driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1,and Tx2 overlaps each of the touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1,and Rx2 is relatively large, relatively large mutual capacitance Cm isformed. However, since each of the second driving electrodes MX0, MX1,and MX2 overlaps each of the touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1,and Rx2 to the relatively small extent, the mutual capacitance Cm isformed to be negligibly small between the second driving electrodes MX0,MX1, and MX2 and the touch signal detection electrodes Rx0, Rx1, andRx2.

The present applicant could obtain raw data for each state by performingtests on the touch input device having the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 10 in the gripped state and the floating state by using aconductive rod having a diameter of 15 φ. FIG. 27 illustrates theobtained raw data, the raw data at the left of FIG. 27 are raw dataobtained in the gripped state, and the raw data at the right of FIG. 27are raw data obtained in the floating state. With the comparison betweenthe raw data at the left and right of FIG. 27, it can be ascertainedthat the level values in the touch region are significantly decreased bythe LGM disturbance signal generated in the floating state.

The present applicant performed tests on the touch input device havingthe touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12 in the gripped state and thefloating state by using a conductive rod having a diameter of 15 φ. Asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 20A to 20C, the mutual capacitance wasnot formed by the driving electrode from the detection signal outputtedfrom the predetermined touch signal detection electrode that forms themutual capacitance with the driving electrode. As a result, the presentapplicant could obtain raw data for each state by subtracting thedetection signal outputted from another predetermined touch signaldetection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode. FIG. 28 illustrates the obtained raw data, the raw data atthe left of FIG. 28 are raw data obtained in the gripped state, and theraw data at the right of FIG. 28 are raw data obtained in the floatingstate. With the comparison between the raw data at the left and right ofFIG. 28, it can be ascertained that a deviation of the level values inthe touch region in the gripped state and floating state issignificantly low in comparison with FIG. 27.

The present applicant could obtain raw data for each state by performingtests on the touch input device having the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 10 in the gripped state and the floating state by using aconductive rod having a diameter of 20 φ. FIG. 29 illustrates theobtained raw data, the raw data at the left of FIG. 29 are raw dataobtained in the gripped state, and the raw data at the right of FIG. 29are raw data obtained in the floating state. With the comparison betweenthe raw data at the left and right of FIG. 29, it can be ascertainedthat the level values in the touch region are significantly decreased bythe LGM disturbance signal generated in the floating state.

The present applicant performed tests on the touch input device havingthe touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12 in the gripped state and thefloating state by using a conductive rod having a diameter of 15 φ. Asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 20A to 20C, the mutual capacitance wasnot formed by the driving electrode from the detection signal outputtedfrom the touch signal detection electrode that forms the mutualcapacitance with the driving electrode. As a result, the presentapplicant could obtain raw data for each state by subtracting thedetection signal outputted from another predetermined touch signaldetection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode. FIG. 30 illustrates the obtained raw data, the raw data atthe left of FIG. 30 are raw data obtained in the gripped state, and theraw data at the right of FIG. 30 are raw data obtained in the floatingstate. With the comparison between the raw data at the left and right ofFIG. 30, it can be ascertained that a deviation of the level values inthe touch region in the gripped state and the floating state is low, andthere is a part where the level value is great even in the floatingstate.

The present applicant could obtain raw data for each state by performingtests on the touch input device having the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 10 in the gripped state and the floating state by using an actualperson's thumb. FIG. 31 illustrates the obtained raw data, the raw dataat the left of FIG. 31 are raw data obtained in the gripped state, andthe raw data at the right of FIG. 31 are raw data obtained in thefloating state. With the comparison between the raw data at the left andright of FIG. 31, it can be ascertained that the level values in thetouch region are significantly decreased by the LGM disturbance signalgenerated in the floating state.

The present applicant performed tests on the touch input device havingthe touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12 in the gripped state and thefloating state by using a conductive rod having a diameter of 15 φ. Asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 20A to 20C, the mutual capacitance wasnot formed by the driving electrode from the detection signal outputtedfrom the touch signal detection electrode that forms the mutualcapacitance with the driving electrode. As a result, the presentapplicant could obtain raw data for each state by subtracting thedetection signal outputted from another predetermined touch signaldetection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode. FIG. 32 illustrates the obtained raw data, the raw data atthe left of FIG. 32 are raw data obtained in the gripped state, and theraw data at the right of FIG. 32 are raw data obtained in the floatingstate. With the comparison between the raw data at the left and right ofFIG. 32, it can be ascertained that there is almost no deviation of thelevel values in the touch region in the gripped state and the floatingstate.

The touch input device having the touch sensor according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention described above has aunique advantage capable of identifying two or more multiple toucheseven in the floating state.

FIG. 33 is a view illustrating a state in which multiple touches made bymultiple objects cannot be recognized when touch input devices in therelated art are in the floating state.

The situation illustrated in FIG. 33 may be exemplarily considered as acase in which a user touches the touch surface of the touch input devicewith two fingers in a state in which the touch input device in therelated art is mounted on a mount in a vehicle.

As illustrated in the left view in FIG. 33, the touch input devices inthe related art cannot recognize one of two (multiple) touches, or asillustrated in in the right view in FIG. 33, the user made two touches,but the touch input device recognizes three or four (multiple) touches.

FIG. 34A illustrates raw data obtained when the multiple touches aremade after the touch input device having the touch sensor having thedouble layer illustrated in FIG. 3 is placed in the floating state.Referring to FIG. 34A, the level values in the regions in which themultiple touches are made are relatively low because of the LGMdisturbance signal generated in the floating state. If a reference levelvalue for identifying whether the touch is made is set to 65, the touch,which is made relatively high, cannot be recognized as a touch, but onlythe touch, which is made relatively low, is recognized as a touch, andas a result, one of the two touches cannot be recognized.

FIG. 34B illustrates raw data obtained when the multiple touches aremade after the touch input device having the touch sensor illustrated inFIG. 10 is placed in the floating state. Referring to FIG. 34B, there isa portion where the level values in the regions in which the multipletouches are made are relatively low because of the LGM disturbancesignal generated in the floating state. If the reference level value foridentifying whether the touch is made is set to 65, it is recognizedthat there are three or more touches.

FIG. 34C illustrates raw data obtained when multiple touches are madeafter the touch input device is placed in the floating state when themethod of subtracting the detection signal outputted from anotherpredetermined touch signal detection electrode used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode is applied to the touch inputdevice having the touch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12 because the mutualcapacitance is not formed by the driving electrode from the detectionsignal outputted from the touch signal detection electrode that formsthe mutual capacitance with the driving electrode, as described withreference to FIGS. 20A to 20C. Referring to FIG. 34C, because relativelylarge positive (+) level values are outputted from two portions wherethe multiple touches is made, the touch input device may accuratelyrecognize the user's multiple touches as the multiple touches.

The touch input device having the touch sensor according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention described above has aunique advantage capable of identifying a third touch (3^(rd) Touch)which is made together with cross touches.

FIG. 35 is a view illustrating a state in which a third touch cannot berecognized when cross touches and the third touch are made together onthe touch surface of the touch input devices in the related art.

As illustrated in the left and right views in FIG. 35, the touch inputdevices in the related art cannot recognize a third touch among twocross touches made by two fingers of a left hand and the third touchmade by one finger of a right hand.

FIG. 36A illustrates raw data obtained when the cross touches and thethird touch are made on the touch input device having the touch sensorhaving the double layer illustrated in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 36A,the level values in the circular region corresponding to the third touchare relatively low in comparison with the portions where the crosstouches are made. Therefore, the touch input device cannot recognize thethird touch.

FIG. 36B illustrates raw data obtained when the cross touches and thethird touch are made on the touch input device having the touch sensorillustrated in FIG. 10. Referring to FIG. 36B, the level values in thecircular region corresponding to the third touch are relatively low incomparison with the portions where the cross touches are made.Therefore, the touch input device cannot recognize the third touch.

FIG. 36C illustrates raw data obtained when the cross touches and thethird touch are made on the touch input device when the method ofsubtracting the detection signal outputted from another predeterminedtouch signal detection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode is applied to the touch input device having thetouch sensor illustrated in FIG. 12 because the mutual capacitance isnot formed by the driving electrode from the detection signal outputtedfrom the touch signal detection electrode that forms the mutualcapacitance with the driving electrode, as described with reference toFIGS. 20A to 20C. Referring to FIG. 36C, it can be ascertained thatrelatively large positive (+) level values are outputted from the twoportions where the cross touches are made, and relatively large positive(+) level values are also outputted from the circular regioncorresponding to the third touch. That is, the touch input device mayrecognize both the cross touches and the third touch.

FIGS. 37A to 37C are a view for explaining an arrangement form ofelectrodes, which constitute the touch sensor 10, for reducing an LGMdisturbance signal according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

A touch sensor panel (not illustrated) according to the exemplaryembodiment may include the touch sensor 10.

Specifically, FIGS. 37A and 37B are views provided to be compared withFIG. 37C according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 37D is a view illustrating even traces with an enlarged part inFIG. 37C, and FIG. 37E illustrates a case in which a channel is extendedby applying FIG. 37C.

In the case of the touch sensor panel illustrated in FIG. 37A, it can beseen that the second electrodes corresponding to the first electrodesRX0 included in the column A1 are disposed in the form ofTX0-TX3-TX4-TX7, and the second electrodes corresponding to the firstelectrodes RX1 are disposed in the form of TX7-TX4-TX3-TX0.

According to this arrangement structure, the same electrodes TX7 aredisposed to be adjacent to one another, and as a result, there is aproblem in that a relatively large amount of LGM disturbance signals aredetected or the resolution deteriorates.

Therefore, in order to solve the problem, the repeated electrodes may beeliminated by disposing the electrodes in the form ofTX0-TX3-TX4-TX7-TX0-TX3-TX4-TX7 as illustrated in FIG. 37B. In thiscase, as indicated in parts Z, the trace is inevitably recessed betweenelectrodes TX, which causes a visual problem because the trace in partsZ is visible from the outside.

Therefore, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is forsolving the above-mentioned problems. According to the followingexemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 37C, as the number of traces isdecreased in comparison with the touch sensor panel illustrated in FIG.9, an effect of reducing the LGM disturbance signal may also beobtained, and the visual problem may be solved. This will be describedin detail.

As illustrated in FIG. 37C, the touch sensor panel according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention may include the pluralityof first electrode columns A1 to A8 and the plurality of secondelectrode columns B1 to B10 which extend in the row direction. Further,the first electrode columns A1 to A8 and the plurality of secondelectrode columns B1 to B10 may be generally and alternately disposed.However, some of the second electrode columns B5 and B6 may becontinuously disposed between the first electrode columns A4 and A5.

The plurality of first electrode columns A1 to A8 may include theplurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the plurality of secondelectrode columns B1 to B10 may include the plurality of secondelectrodes TX0 to TX7. FIG. 37C illustrates that the plurality of firstelectrodes RX0 to RX7 is sequentially disposed preferentially in the rowdirection, and the plurality of second electrodes TX0 to TX7 issequentially disposed preferentially in the column direction, but thescope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

However, FIG. 37C illustrates only a part of the entire touch sensorpanel, but the remaining first electrodes and the remaining secondelectrodes may be further disposed in the column direction and the rowdirection. Further, in FIG. 37C, it is assumed that the first electrodehaving a relatively large size is the touch signal detection electrodeand the second electrode having a relatively small size is the drivingelectrode, but the scope of the present invention is not limitedthereto. The configuration in which the first electrode is defined asthe driving electrode and the second electrode is defined as the touchsignal detection electrode may be equally/similarly applied to thepresent invention.

FIG. 37C illustrates that the electrode and the trace are separated andformed as separate components, but the electrode and the trace may beintegrally formed in the form of a metal mesh in accordance with theexemplary embodiments. In this case, a dead zone, in which the touchposition cannot be detected, such as a zone between the electrode andthe trace and/or between the electrode and another electrode, isreduced, thereby further improving sensitivity in detecting the touchposition.

At least two of the second electrodes TX0, TX3, TX4, and TX7 included inthe second electrode column B2, which is any one of the plurality ofsecond electrode columns B1 to B10 may be disposed to adjacentlycorrespond to any one RX0 of the first electrodes RX0 and RX1 includedin the first electrode column A1 which is any one of the plurality offirst electrode columns A1 to A8. However, this is not only applied tothe first electrode column A1, but also applied equally/similarly to theremaining first electrode columns A2 to A8. In addition, this is notonly applied to the first electrode RX0, but also appliedequally/similarly to the remaining first electrode RX1.

Any one RX0 of the first electrodes RX0 and RX1 included in the firstelectrode column A1 may be connected, by using one first trace, to thesome of the remaining first electrodes (the first electrode RX0 includedin the first electrode column A5) except for any one first electrode(the first electrode RX0 included in the first electrode column A1)among the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7 included in the touchsensor panel. That is, this means the connection to the identicaldetection terminal.

Any one TX0 of the second electrodes TX0, TX3, TX4, and TX7 included inthe second electrode column B2 may be connected, by using one secondtrace, to at least some of the remaining second electrodes (the secondelectrode TX0 included in the second electrode columns B1, and B3 to B5)except for any one second electrode (the second electrode TX0 includedin the second electrode column B2) among the plurality of secondelectrodes TX0 to TX7 included in the touch sensor panel. That is, thismeans the connection to the identical driving terminal.

For reference, the identical first electrodes mean electrodes connectedwith one first trace, and the identical second electrodes meanelectrodes connected with one second trace.

According to the structure of the touch sensor panel illustrated in FIG.37C, the plurality of driving electrodes is connected to the identicaldriving terminal, and the plurality of touch signal detection electrodesis connected to the identical detection terminal, such that the numberof traces may be reduced.

At least two of the second electrodes TX0, TX3, TX4, and TX7 aredisposed to adjacently correspond to the first electrode RX0, at leasttwo of the other second electrodes TX4, TX7, TX3, and TX0 are disposedto adjacently correspond to another first electrode RX1, and theelectrodes, which have the same number among the second electrodes TX0,TX3, TX4, and TX7 and the other second electrodes TX4, TX7, TX3, andTX0, are connected by using one second trace, such that the number oftraces may be reduced in comparison with the structure in which all ofthe plurality of driving electrodes corresponding to one touch signaldetection electrode are connected by using different traces, asillustrated in FIG. 9.

Meanwhile, some first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7, which areincluded in a touch window region S among the plurality of firstelectrodes RX0 to RX7 of the touch sensor panel, may be connected to oneanother with the different first traces.

All of the first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7 included in the touchwindow region S are separated from one another and connected by usingthe different first traces, such that the LGM disturbance signal may bereduced, thereby improving touch sensitivity.

Meanwhile, the touch window region S in the present invention may bedefined as an area, like a touch area of a thumb, larger than a toucharea of each of the remaining fingers. Specifically, the area of thetouch window region S may be implemented as about 15 mm*15 mm or more orabout 20 mm*20 mm or less, but particularly, the area of the touchwindow region S may be implemented as about 16 mm*16 mm. In particular,FIG. 37C illustrates that the area of the touch window region S isimplemented as about 16 mm*16 mm.

Specifically, an area of a unit cell (the hatched portion in FIG. 37C)may be implemented as approximately 4 mm (vertical)*2 mm (horizontal).As such, in the case of FIG. 37C, one RX electrode (having a sizecorresponding to four unit cells) has a vertical length of approximately16 mm and a horizontal length of approximately 2 mm Further, one TXelectrode (having a size corresponding to one unit cell) has a verticallength of approximately 4 mm and a horizontal length of approximately 2mm Therefore, FIG. 37C illustrates that the area of the touch windowregion S is implemented as about 16 mm*16 mm For reference, TX0 in thecolumn B1 has a vertical length of approximately 4 mm and a horizontallength of approximately 1 mm, and TX0 in column B5 has a vertical lengthof approximately 4 mm and a horizontal length of approximately 1 mm,such that a sum of the areas of the two electrodes is the area of oneunit cell.

As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 37C, the touch window region S mayinclude some RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7 of the plurality of first electrodesRX0 to RX7 and some TX0, TX3, TX4, and TX7 of the plurality of secondelectrodes TX0 to TX7. Specifically, the touch window region S mayinclude the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7, which arecontinuously disposed in the column direction among the plurality offirst electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the four second electrodes TX0, TX3,TX4, and TX7 which are continuously disposed and adjacently correspond,in the row direction, to the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, andRX7.

In the touch sensor panel illustrated in FIG. 37C, based on any one ofthe first electrodes RX0 and RX1 included in the first electrode columnA1, the second electrode column B2 may be disposed at one side, andanother second electrode column B1 may be disposed at the other side.Further, any one of the second electrodes TX0, TX3, TX4, and TX7included in the second electrode column B2 and any one of the secondelectrodes TX0, TX3, TX4, and TX7 included in another second electrodecolumn B1 may be disposed in the same column based on any one RX0 of thefirst electrodes RX0 and RX1. In this case, any one of the secondelectrodes TX0, TX3, TX4, and TX7 included in the second electrodecolumn B2 and any one of the second electrodes TX0, TX3, TX4, and TX7included in another second electrode column B1, which are disposed inthe same row, mean electrodes connected by using the same one secondtrace.

That is, based on the first electrode having a relatively large size,the two identical second electrodes having a relatively small size maybe disposed to be adjacent to the left and right sides. The twoidentical second electrodes may be disposed on the same line.

However, FIG. 37C illustrates that the identical second electrodeshaving a relatively small size are disposed based on the first electrodehaving a relatively large size, but according to another exemplaryembodiment, a configuration may be implemented such that the identicalfirst electrodes having a relatively large size are disposed based onthe second electrode having a relatively small size.

FIG. 37C illustrates that the second electrodes are disposed to beadjacent to the left and right sides based on the first electrode, butaccording to another exemplary embodiment, a configuration may beimplemented such that the second electrodes are disposed to be adjacentto upper and lower sides based on the first electrode.

FIG. 37C illustrates that the second electrode (e.g., TX0) of the secondelectrode column B2 and the second electrode (e.g., TX0) of anothersecond electrode column B1, which are disposed based on the firstelectrode (e.g., RX0) of the first electrode column A1, have differentsizes. However, according to another exemplary embodiment, aconfiguration may be implemented such that the second electrode (e.g.,TX0) of the second electrode column B2 and the second electrode (e.g.,TX0) of another second electrode column B1 have the same size.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIGS. 37C and 37D, the touch sensor panelmay include the touch window region S, and an adjacent touch region S′disposed to be adjacent, in the row direction, to the touch windowregion S among the remaining touch regions. Further, the adjacent touchregion S′ is defined as a region having the same size as the touchwindow region S.

In this case, among the second electrodesTX0-TX3-TX4-TX7-TX4-TX7-TX3-TX0 included in the second electrode columnB1, the first-disposed electrode TX4, which is disposed first among thesecond electrodes TX4-TX7-TX3-TX0 included in the adjacent touch regionS′, and the electrode TX4, which is disposed immediately before theelectrode TX7 which is disposed lastly among the second electrodesTX0-TX3-TX4-TX7 included in the touch window region S, may be connectedwith the same trace, and the second-disposed electrode TX7, which isdisposed immediately sequentially to the electrode which is disposedfirst, and the electrode TX7, which is disposed lastly, may be connectedwith the same trace.

The remaining second electrodes TX3-TX0, except for the first-disposedelectrode and the second-disposed electrode, and the second electrodesTX3-TX0, which are disposed to face one another based on thefirst-disposed electrode, the second-disposed electrode, the electrodedisposed lastly, and the electrode disposed immediately before theelectrode disposed lastly, may be connected with the same trace.

FIG. 37E illustrates an example in which the number of channels isfurther increased. Among the second electrodesTX0-TX3-TX4-TX7-TX8-TX11-TX12-TX15-TX12-TX15-TX11-TX8-TX7-TX4-TX3-TX0included in the second electrode column B1, the first-disposed electrodeTX12, which is disposed first among the second electrodesTX12-TX15-TX11-TX8-TX7-TX4-TX3-TX0 included in the adjacent touch regionS′, and the electrode TX12, which is disposed immediately before theelectrode TX15 which is disposed lastly among the second electrodesTX0-TX3-TX4-TX7-TX8-TX11-TX12-TX15 included in the touch window regionS, may be connected with the same trace, and the second-disposedelectrode TX15, which is disposed immediately sequentially to theelectrode which is disposed first, and the electrode TX15, which isdisposed lastly, may be connected with the same trace.

The remaining second electrodes TX11-TX8-TX7-TX4-TX3-TX0, except for thefirst-disposed electrode and the second-disposed electrode, and thesecond electrodes TX11-TX8-TX7-TX4-TX3-TX0, which are disposed to faceone another based on the first-disposed electrode, the second-disposedelectrode, the electrode disposed lastly, and the electrode disposedimmediately before the electrode disposed lastly, may be connected withthe same trace.

With this arrangement form, the separate trace is not recessed betweenthe electrodes TX, and as a result, it is possible to solve the visualproblem in that the trace is visible from the outside.

Consequently, according to the arrangement form of the electrodesillustrated in FIG. 37C, it is possible to reduce the number of traces,reduce the LGM disturbance signal, and solve the visual problem in thatthe trace is visible from the outside.

FIGS. 19C to 19E illustrate a method of connecting the trace and theelectrode pattern manufactured by applying the principle illustrated inFIGS. 37C to 37E which is described above with reference to FIG. 19A.

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 19A may beequally/similarly applied to FIGS. 19C to 19E.

FIG. 19D is a view illustrating the trace together with some electrodesillustrated in FIG. 19C.

Referring to FIGS. 19C and 19D together, the touch window region S mayinclude some RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7 of the plurality of first electrodesRX0 to RX7 and some Tx0, Tx1, TX6, TX7, TX8, TX9, TX14, and TX15 of theplurality of second electrodes TX0 to TX15. Specifically, the touchwindow region S may include the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, andRX7, which are continuously disposed in the column direction among theplurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the four second electrodesTX0, TX7, TX8, TX15 or TX1, TX6, TX9, and TX14 which are continuouslydisposed and adjacently correspond, in the row direction, to the fourfirst electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7.

For reference, in the present invention, the configuration in which thesecond electrode is disposed to adjacently correspond to the firstelectrode or the first electrode is disposed to adjacently correspond tothe second electrode may mean that the mutual capacitance may begenerated between the adjacent first and second electrodes.

In the touch sensor panel illustrated in FIG. 19C, based on any one ofthe first electrodes RX0 and RX1 included in the first electrode columnA1, the second electrode column B2 may be disposed at one side, andanother second electrode column B1 may be disposed at the other side.Further, any one of the second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15included in the second electrode column B2 and any one of the secondelectrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15 included in another second electrodecolumn B1 may be disposed in the same row based on any one RX0 of thefirst electrodes RX0 and RX1. In this case, any one of the secondelectrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15 included in the second electrodecolumn B2 and any one of the second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15included in another second electrode column B1, which are disposed inthe same row, may constitute the same channel.

That is, based on the first electrode having a relatively large size,the two identical second electrodes having a relatively small size maybe disposed to be adjacent to the left and right sides. The twoidentical second electrodes may be disposed on the same line. As aresult, it is possible to improve the split effect of the result valueof the capacitance signal caused by the LGM disturbance signal asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 5. In general, the split of theresult value of the capacitance signal is mainly caused when theconfiguration in which the identical second electrodes are disposedbased on the first electrode and the configuration in which thedifferent second electrodes are disposed based on the first electrodeare mixed. Therefore, the case in which the two identical secondelectrodes are disposed on the same line based on all of the firstelectrodes may relatively further improve the split effect of the resultvalue of the capacitance signal caused by the LGM disturbance signal.

However, FIG. 19C illustrates that the identical second electrodeshaving a relatively small size are disposed based on the first electrodehaving a relatively large size, but according to another exemplaryembodiment, a configuration may be implemented such that the identicalfirst electrodes having a relatively large size are disposed based onthe second electrode having a relatively small size.

FIG. 19C illustrates that the second electrodes are disposed to beadjacent to the left and right sides based on the first electrode, butaccording to another exemplary embodiment, a configuration may beimplemented such that the second electrodes are disposed to be adjacentto upper and lower sides based on the first electrode.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 19C, the touch sensor panel mayinclude the touch window region S, and the adjacent touch region S′disposed to be adjacent, in the row direction, to the touch windowregion S among the remaining touch regions. Further, the adjacent touchregion S′ is defined as a region having the same size as the touchwindow region S.

In this case, among the second electrodesTX0-TX7-TX8-TX15-TX8-TX15-TX7-TX0 included in the second electrodecolumn B1, the first-disposed electrode TX8, which is disposed firstamong the second electrodes TX8-TX15-TX7-TX0 included in the adjacenttouch region S′, and the electrode TX8, which is disposed immediatelybefore the electrode TX7 which is disposed lastly among the secondelectrodes TX0-TX7-TX8-TX15 included in the touch window region S, maybe connected with the same trace, and the second-disposed electrodeTX15, which is disposed immediately sequentially to the electrode whichis disposed first in the adjacent touch region S′, and the electrodeTX15, which is disposed lastly in the touch window region S, may beconnected with the same trace.

The remaining second electrodes TX7-TX0, except for the first-disposedelectrode and the second-disposed electrode in the adjacent touch regionS′, and the second electrodes TX7-TX0 in the touch window region S,which are disposed to face one another based on the first-disposedelectrode in the adjacent touch region S′, the second-disposedelectrode, the electrode disposed lastly in the touch window region S,and the electrode disposed immediately before the electrode disposedlastly, may be connected with the same trace.

FIG. 19E illustrates an example in which the number of channels isfurther increased. Among the second electrodesTX0-TX7-TX8-TX15-TX16-TX23-TX24-TX31-TX24-TX31-TX23-TX16-TX15-TX8-TX7-TX0included in the second electrode column B1, the first-disposed electrodeTX24, which is disposed first among the second electrodesTX24-TX31-TX23-TX16-TX15-TX8-TX7-TX0 included in the adjacent touchregion S′, and the electrode TX24, which is disposed immediately beforethe electrode TX31 which is disposed lastly among the second electrodesTX0-TX7-TX8-TX15-TX16-TX23-TX24-TX31 included in the touch window regionS, may be connected with the same trace, and the second-disposedelectrode TX31, which is disposed immediately sequentially to theelectrode which is disposed first in the adjacent touch region S′, andthe electrode TX31, which is disposed lastly in the touch window regionS, may be connected with the same trace.

The remaining second electrodes TX23-TX16-TX15-TX8-TX7-TX0, except forthe first-disposed electrode and the second-disposed electrode in theadjacent touch region S′, and the second electrodesTX23-TX16-TX15-TX8-TX7-TX0, which are disposed to be symmetrical basedon the first-disposed electrode in the adjacent touch region S′, thesecond-disposed electrode, the electrode disposed lastly in the touchwindow region S, and the electrode disposed immediately before theelectrode disposed lastly, may be connected with the same trace.

With this arrangement form, the separate trace is not recessed betweenthe electrodes TX, and as a result, it is possible to solve the visualproblem in that the trace is visible from the outside.

Consequently, according to the arrangement form of the electrodesillustrated in FIGS. 19C to 19E, it is possible to reduce the number oftraces, reduce the LGM disturbance signal, and solve the visual problemin that the trace is visible from the outside.

FIGS. 19F and 19G illustrate other electrode arrangement forms accordingto the exemplary embodiment.

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 19A may beequally/similarly applied to FIGS. 19F and 19G.

According to the trace connection method according to the arrangement ofthe electrodes illustrated in FIGS. 19C to 19E, a width of a bezel inwhich the trace is disposed in the touch input device may be increased,such that the trace may occupy a large space. Therefore, in the case ofFIGS. 19F and 19G, the trace connection method, which relativelydecreases the space occupied by the trace, is provided.

For example, in the case of FIG. 19E, based on the column B 1, seventrace arrangement spaces are required at the left side, and eight tracearrangement spaces are required at the right side. In contrast, in thecase of FIG. 19G, it can be seen that based on the column B1, the fourtrace arrangement spaces are required at the left side, and the eighttrace arrangement spaces are required at the right side. That is, in thecase of FIG. 19G, a narrow space is required to dispose the trace incomparison with FIG. 19E.

In the touch sensor panel illustrated in FIG. 19F, based on any one ofthe first electrodes RX0 and RX1 included in the first electrode columnA1, the second electrode column B2 may be disposed at one side, andanother second electrode column B1 may be disposed at the other side.Further, any one of the second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15included in the second electrode column B2 and any one of the secondelectrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15 included in another second electrodecolumn B1 may be disposed in the same row based on any one RX0 of thefirst electrodes RX0 and RX1. In this case, any one of the secondelectrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15 included in the second electrodecolumn B2 and any one of the second electrodes TX0, TX7, TX8, and TX15included in another second electrode column B1, which are disposed inthe same row, mean electrodes connected by using the same one secondtrace.

The touch window region S illustrated in FIG. 19F may include some RX0,RX3, RX4, and RX7 of the plurality of first electrodes RX0 to RX7 andsome Tx0, Tx1, TX6, TX7, TX8, TX9, TX14, and TX15 of the plurality ofsecond electrodes TX0 to TX15. Specifically, the touch window region Smay include the four first electrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7, which arecontinuously disposed in the column direction among the plurality offirst electrodes RX0 to RX7, and the four second electrodes TX0, TX7,TX8, TX15 or TX1, TX6, TX9, and TX14 which are continuously disposed andadjacently correspond, in the row direction, to the four firstelectrodes RX0, RX3, RX4, and RX7.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 19F, the touch sensor panel mayinclude the touch window region S, and the adjacent touch region S′disposed to be adjacent, in the row direction, to the touch windowregion S among the remaining touch regions. Further, the adjacent touchregion S′ is defined as a region having the same size as the touchwindow region S′.

In this case, the second electrodes TX0-TX7-TX8-TX15-TX7-TX0-TX15-TX8included in the second electrode column B1 includes, in the touch windowregion S, a first electrode set including the second electrodes TX0 andTX7 and a second electrode set including the second electrodes TX8 andTX15, and includes, in the adjacent touch region S′, a third electrodeset including the second electrodes TX7 and TX0 and a fourth electrodeset including the second electrodes TX15 and TX8.

The second electrodes TX7 and TX0, which constitute the third electrodeset in the adjacent touch region S′, and the second electrodes TX7 andTX0, which constitute the first electrode set in the touch window regionS, are connected with the same trace. Further, the second electrodes TX7and TX0, which are connected with the same trace, may be disposed to besymmetrical in the third electrode set and the first electrode set. Thatis, the second electrode TX7, which is disposed second in the firstelectrode set, and the second electrode TX7, which is disposed first inthe third electrode set, may be connected with the same trace, and thesecond electrode TX0, which is disposed first in the first electrodeset, and the second electrode TX0, which is disposed second in the thirdelectrode set, may be connected with the same trace.

This feature may also be equally applied to the second electrode set andthe fourth electrode set.

The second electrodes TX15 and TX8, which constitute the fourthelectrode set in the adjacent touch region S′, and the second electrodesTX15 and TX8, which constitute the second electrode set in the touchwindow region S, are connected with the same trace. Further, the secondelectrodes TX15 and TX8, which are connected with the same trace, may bedisposed to be symmetrical in the fourth electrode set and the secondelectrode set. That is, the second electrode TX15, which is disposedsecond in the second electrode set, and the second electrode TX15, whichis disposed first in the fourth electrode set, may be connected with thesame trace, and the second electrode TX8, which is disposed first in thesecond electrode set, and the second electrode TX8, which is disposedsecond in the fourth electrode set, may be connected with the sametrace.

FIG. 19F illustrates that the number of electrodes included in oneelectrode set is 2, but FIG. 19G illustrates that the number ofelectrodes included in one electrode set is 4. In addition, the scope ofthe present invention may be equally/similarly applied to aconfiguration in which the number of electrodes included in oneelectrode set is n.

In FIG. 19G, the second electrodesTX0-TX7-TX8-TX15-TX16-TX23-TX24-TX31-TX15-TX8-TX7-TX0-TX31-TX24-TX23-TX16included in the second electrode column B1 includes, in the touch windowregion S, the first electrode set including the second electrodes TX0,TX7, TX8, and TX15 and the second electrode set including the secondelectrodes TX16-TX23-TX24-TX31, and includes, in the adjacent touchregion S′, the third electrode set including the second electrodesTX15-TX8-TX7-TX0 and the fourth electrode set including the secondelectrodes TX31-TX24-TX23-TX16.

The second electrodes TX15-TX8-TX7-TX0, which constitute the thirdelectrode set in the adjacent touch region S′, and the second electrodesTX15-TX8-TX7-TX0, which constitute the first electrode set in the touchwindow region S, are connected with the same trace. Further, the secondelectrodes TX15-TX8-TX7-TX0, which are connected with the same trace,may be disposed to face one another in the third electrode set and thefirst electrode set. That is, the second electrode TX0, which isdisposed first in the first electrode set, and the second electrode TX0,which is disposed fourth in the third electrode set, may be connectedwith the same trace, the second electrode TX7, which is disposed secondin the first electrode set, and the second electrode TX7, which isdisposed third in the third electrode set, may be connected with thesame trace, the second electrode TX8, which is disposed third in thefirst electrode set, and the second electrode TX8, which is disposedsecond in the third electrode set, may be connected with the same trace,and the second electrode TX15, which is disposed fourth in the firstelectrode set, and the second electrode TX15, which is disposed first inthe third electrode set, may be connected with the same trace.

This feature may also be equally applied to the second electrode set andthe fourth electrode set.

The second electrodes TX31-TX24-TX23-TX16, which constitute the fourthelectrode set in the adjacent touch region S′, and the second electrodesTX31-TX24-TX23-TX16, which constitute the second electrode set in thetouch window region S, are connected with the same trace. Further, thesecond electrodes TX31-TX24-TX23-TX16, which are connected with the sametrace, may be disposed to face one another in the fourth electrode setand the second electrode set. That is, the second electrode TX16, whichis disposed first in the second electrode set, and the second electrodeTX15, which is disposed fourth in the fourth electrode set, may beconnected with the same trace, the second electrode TX23, which isdisposed second in the second electrode set, and the second electrodeTX23, which is disposed third in the fourth electrode set, may beconnected with the same trace, the second electrode TX24, which isdisposed third in the second electrode set, and the second electrodeTX24, which is disposed second in the fourth electrode set, may beconnected with the same trace, and the second electrode TX31, which isdisposed fourth in the second electrode set, and the second electrodeTX31, which is disposed first in the fourth electrode set, may beconnected with the same trace.

This arrangement form may decrease the width of the bezel of the touchinput device.

FIG. 19 illustrates an example in which the electrode having arelatively large size is the touch signal detection electrode and theelectrode having a relatively small size is the driving electrode. Incontrast, the present invention may be equally/similarly applied even inthe case in which the electrode having a relatively large size is thedriving electrode and the electrode having a relatively small size isthe touch signal detection electrode.

The examples described above with reference to FIG. 19 may be not onlyapplied to the electrode or the electrode column, but also appliedequally/similarly to all of the electrodes and all of the electrodecolumns in the touch sensor panel.

FIGS. 38 to 48 are views illustrating various types of electrodearrangement forms and trace connection forms according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention and explain a case inwhich inhibition of LGM is applied to each of the exemplary embodiments.

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 19A may also beequally/similarly applied to FIGS. 38 to 48. That is, some of the touchsignal detection electrodes may be used as the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes without separately providing the physicallyseparate LGM disturbance signal detection electrode.

FIGS. 38 to 44 illustrate only one touch window region S of the touchsensor, the touch sensor may further include a plurality of electrodesin the column and row directions, and the following principle may beequally/similarly applied to the remaining touch window region of thetouch sensor.

FIGS. 45 to 48 illustrate only a part of the touch sensor, and aplurality of first and second electrodes may further include in the rowdirection and the column direction.

In FIGS. 38 to 40 and 43 to 48, the first electrode having a relativelylarge area and/or length is defined as the driving electrode, and thesecond electrode having a relatively small area and/or length is definedas the touch signal detection electrode. In FIGS. 41 and 42, the firstelectrode having a relatively large area and/or length is defined as thetouch signal detection electrode, and the second electrode having arelatively small area and/or length is defined as the driving electrode.However, the following principle may also be equally/similarly appliedto the case in which the above-mentioned configuration is implemented inthe opposite manner

FIGS. 38 to 40, 43, and 44 illustrate that a length of one touch signaldetection electrode is ½ of a length of one driving electrode, and anarea of one touch signal detection electrode is ¼ of an area of onedriving electrode. FIGS. 41 and 42 illustrate that a length of onedriving electrode is 1/4 of a length of one touch signal detectionelectrode, and an area of one driving electrode is ½ of an area of onetouch signal detection electrode. However, the present invention may beequally/similarly applied to a configuration in which theabove-mentioned numerical values are changed to other numerical values.

FIGS. 45 to 48 illustrate that an area of one touch signal detectionelectrode is ½ of an area of one driving electrode, but the scope of thepresent invention is not limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 38, the touch sensor according to the exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may include the plurality of firstelectrode columns A1 to A4 and the plurality of second electrode columnsB1 to B8 that extend in the column direction. Further, the firstelectrode columns A1 to A4 and the plurality of second electrode columnsB1 to B8 may be generally and alternately disposed. However, some of thesecond electrode columns (e.g., B2 and B3) may be continuously disposedbetween the first electrode columns A1 and A2.

The plurality of first electrode columns A1 to A4 may include theplurality of first electrodes TX0 to TX7, and the plurality of secondelectrode columns B1 to B8 may include the plurality of secondelectrodes RX0 to RX7. FIG. 38 illustrates that the plurality of firstelectrodes TX0 to TX7 is sequentially disposed preferentially in thecolumn direction, and the plurality of second electrodes RX0 to RX7 issequentially disposed preferentially in the column direction, but thescope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

However, FIG. 38 illustrates only a part of the entire touch sensor, butthe remaining first electrodes and the remaining second electrodes maybe further disposed in the column direction and the row direction.

FIG. 38 illustrates that the electrode and the trace are separated andformed as separate components, but the electrode and the trace may beintegrally formed in the form of a metal mesh in accordance with theexemplary embodiments. In this case, a dead zone, in which the touchposition cannot be detected, such as a zone between the electrode andthe trace and/or between the electrode and another electrode, isreduced, thereby further improving sensitivity in detecting the touchposition.

For example, in FIG. 38, at least two of the touch signal detectionelectrodes RX1 and RX6 in the column B4 may be disposed to adjacentlycorrespond to the driving electrode TX1 in the column A2, at least twoof the other touch signal detection electrodes RX1 and RX6 may bedisposed to adjacently correspond to another driving electrode TX5 inthe adjusted next row, and then the electrodes, which have the samenumber among at least two electrodes and at least two of the otherelectrodes, may be connected by using one trace. Therefore, the numberof traces may be reduced in comparison with the structure in which allof the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes corresponding toone driving electrode are connected by using different traces. However,this feature may be equally/similarly applied between the column A2 andthe column B3 as well as between the column A2 and the column B4, andthis feature may be equally/similarly applied between all columns A andall columns B included in the touch sensor as well as between the columnA1 and the column B1 and between the column A1 and the column B2.

For reference, in the present invention, the configuration in which thetouch signal detection electrode is disposed to adjacently correspond tothe driving electrode or the driving electrode is disposed to adjacentlycorrespond to the touch signal detection electrode may mean that themutual capacitance may be generated between the adjacent drivingelectrode and the adjacent touch signal detection electrode.

In FIG. 38, the touch signal detection electrodes may be disposed on twolines based on the driving electrode in one row. On the respective twolines, the touch signal detection electrodes having the same number maybe disposed at the left and right sides based on the driving electrodein one row. The touch signal detection electrodes disposed at the leftand right sides based on the driving electrode in one row may constituteone channel. As a result, it is possible to solve the split effect ofthe result value of the capacitance signal caused by the LGM disturbancesignal as described above with reference to FIG. 5. In general, thesplit of the result value of the capacitance signal is mainly causedwhen the configuration in which the identical touch signal detectionelectrodes are disposed based on the driving electrode and theconfiguration in which the different touch signal detection electrodesare disposed based on the driving electrode are mixed. Therefore, thecase in which the two identical touch signal detection electrodes aredisposed on the same line based on all of the driving electrodes mayrelatively further improve the split effect of the result value of thecapacitance signal caused by the LGM disturbance signal.

In FIG. 38, the touch signal detection electrode (RX1 in the column B4),which is disposed on the first line so as to correspond to the drivingelectrode (TX1 in the column A2) in the first row, and the touch signaldetection electrode (RX1 in the column B4), which is disposed on thefirst line so as to correspond to the driving electrode (TX5 in thecolumn A2) in the second row, may be connected with one trace.

Likewise, the touch signal detection electrode (RX6 in the column B4),which is disposed on the second line so as to correspond to the drivingelectrode (TX1 in the column A2) in the first row, and the touch signaldetection electrode (RX6 in the column B4), which is disposed on thesecond line so as to correspond to the driving electrode (TX5 in thecolumn A2) in the second row, may be connected with one trace.

The driving electrodes included in the plurality of first electrodecolumns A1 to A4 may be connected with the different first traces.Therefore, it is possible to reduce the LGM disturbance signal and thusto improve touch sensitivity.

However, this is not only applied to the first electrode column A2, butalso applied equally/similarly to the remaining first electrode column.

Referring to FIG. 38, when the driving signal is applied to the firstdriving electrode Tx1, Rx1 (hatched) disposed to be adjacent to thefirst driving electrode Tx1 may be used as the predetermined touchsignal detection electrode that forms the mutual capacitance Cm with thefirst driving electrode Tx1, and Rx0 and Rx2 (reversely hatched)disposed to be spaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1 at apredetermined distance may be defined as the other predetermined touchsignal detection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode that does not form the mutual capacitance Cm with the firstdriving electrode Tx1.

Specifically, in FIG. 38, the other predetermined touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx0 and Rx2 used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes are spaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1 at apredetermined distance, thereby satisfying the condition in which themutual capacitance Cm need not be formed and the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx2 are connected to thepredetermined touch signal detection electrode Rx1 with the differentchannels. In this case, the connection with the different channels meansthat the channel having an electrode number, which is not coincidentwith an electrode number provided to the predetermined touch signaldetection electrode Rx1, is connected.

The detection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes Rx1 and Rx6 includes the noise information as wellas the information about the amount of change in capacitance made by thetouch of the object.

In contrast, the detection signal outputted from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrodes RX0 and RX2 used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes includes only the noiseinformation while including almost no information about the amount ofchange in capacitance made by the touch of the object.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain only the value of the amount ofchange in pure mutual capacitance by subtracting the signal valueoutputted from the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodeused as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrode from the signalvalue outputted from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode.

In particular, in the case of FIG. 38, a sum of areas of the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes may be almost equal to a sum ofareas of the predetermined touch signal detection electrodes.

Because a magnitude of the detected signal is proportional to an area ofthe electrode, the above-mentioned configuration is to allow a magnitudeof the LGM disturbance signal detected from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode and a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode to beequal to each other maximally, thereby completely removing the LGMdisturbance signal during the process of removing the LGM disturbancesignal.

Meanwhile, in the case of FIG. 38, in order to allow the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx2 used as theLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes to include almost noinformation about the amount of change in capacitance made by the touchof the object, any driving electrode or the predetermined touch signaldetection electrode (e.g., RX1) disposed between the first drivingelectrode Tx1 and the other predetermined touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx0 and Rx2 used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes may be set to be grounded (GND).

In comparison with the pattern in FIG. 38, FIG. 39 illustrates that thedriving electrodes, which have the same number among the drivingelectrodes disposed in the same row, are repeatedly disposed. That is,any one of the driving electrodes disposed on the same row mayconstitute the same channel with another driving electrode. LikeTX0-TX1-TX0-TX1, one driving electrode having a different number may bedisposed between the driving electrodes having the same number. Thedriving electrodes having the same number may be electrically connectedto each other to constitute one channel. Based on one row, the number ofdriving electrodes having the same number, which constitute one channel,may be ½ of the number of all driving electrodes that constitute onerow. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to thecorresponding number.

The feature described above with reference to FIG. 38 may beequally/similarly applied to FIG. 39. However, in FIG. 39, the number ofchannels of the driving electrodes is decreased in comparison with FIG.38.

For example, in FIG. 40, at least two of the touch signal detectionelectrodes RX2 and RX5 in the column B3 are disposed to adjacentlycorrespond to the driving electrode TX1 in the column A2, at least twoof the other touch signal detection electrodes RX2 and RX5 are disposedto adjacently correspond to another driving electrode TX6, and then theelectrodes, which have the same number among at least two electrodes andat least two of the other electrodes, are connected with one trace, suchthat the number of traces may be reduced in comparison with thestructure in which all of the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes corresponding to one driving electrode are connected with thedifferent traces.

In FIG. 40, the different touch signal detection electrodes may bedisposed at the left and right sides in the same row based on eachdriving electrode.

Referring to FIG. 40, when the driving signal is applied to the firstdriving electrode Tx1, Rx1 and Rx2 (hatched) disposed to be adjacent tothe first driving electrode Tx1 may be used as the predetermined touchsignal detection electrode that forms the mutual capacitance Cm with thefirst driving electrode Tx1, and Rx0 and Rx3 (reversely hatched)disposed to be spaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1 at apredetermined distance may be defined as the other predetermined touchsignal detection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode that does not form the mutual capacitance Cm with the firstdriving electrode Tx1.

Specifically, in FIG. 40, the other predetermined touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx0 and Rx3 used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes are spaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1 at apredetermined distance, thereby satisfying the condition in which themutual capacitance Cm need not be formed and the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx3 are connected to thepredetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx1 and Rx2 with thedifferent channels. In this case, the connection with the differentchannels means that the channel having an electrode number, which is notcoincident with electrode numbers provided to the predetermined touchsignal detection electrodes Rx1 and Rx2, is connected.

The detection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes Rx1 and Rx2 includes the noise information as wellas the information about the amount of change in capacitance made by thetouch of the object.

In contrast, the detection signal outputted from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx3 used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes includes only the noiseinformation while including almost no information about the amount ofchange in capacitance made by the touch of the object.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain only the value of the amount ofchange in pure mutual capacitance by subtracting the signal valueoutputted from the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodeused as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrode from the signalvalue outputted from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode.

In particular, in the case of FIG. 40, a sum of areas of the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes may be almost equal to a sum ofareas of the predetermined touch signal detection electrodes.

Because a magnitude of the detected signal is proportional to an area ofthe electrode, the above-mentioned configuration is to allow a magnitudeof the LGM disturbance signal detected from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode and a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode to beequal to each other maximally, thereby completely removing the LGMdisturbance signal during the process of removing the LGM disturbancesignal.

Meanwhile, in the case of FIG. 40, in order to allow the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx3 used as theLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes to include almost noinformation about the amount of change in capacitance made by the touchof the object, any driving electrode or any touch signal detectionelectrode (e.g., RX1 and RX2) disposed between the first drivingelectrode Tx1 and the other predetermined touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx0 and Rx3 used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes may be set to be grounded (GND).

In FIGS. 41 and 42, the electrode having a relatively large area and/orlength is defined as the touch signal detection electrode, and theelectrode having a relatively small area and/or length is defined as thedriving electrode. However, the following principle may also beequally/similarly applied to the case in which the above-mentionedconfiguration is implemented in the opposite manner

In FIG. 41, the plurality of driving electrodes may be disposedpreferentially in the column direction, and the identical touch signaldetection electrodes may be disposed at the left and right sides basedon the driving electrode. Further, the touch signal detectionelectrodes, which are disposed at the left and right sides based on thefirst driving electrode, and the touch signal detection electrodes,which are disposed at the left and right sides based on the seconddriving electrode, may be disposed to be different from one another.

Referring to FIG. 41, when the driving signal is applied to the firstdriving electrode Tx1, Rx1 (hatched) disposed to be adjacent to thefirst driving electrode Tx1 may be used as the predetermined touchsignal detection electrode that forms the mutual capacitance Cm with thefirst driving electrode Tx1, and Rx0 and Rx2 (reversely hatched)disposed to be spaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1 at apredetermined distance may be defined as the other predetermined touchsignal detection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode that does not form the mutual capacitance Cm with the firstdriving electrode Tx1.

Specifically, in FIG. 41, the other predetermined touch signal detectionelectrodes Rx0 and Rx2 used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrodes are spaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1 at apredetermined distance, thereby satisfying the condition in which themutual capacitance Cm need not be formed and the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx2 are connected to thepredetermined touch signal detection electrode Rx1 with the differentchannels. In this case, the connection with the different channels meansthat the channel having an electrode number, which is not coincidentwith an electrode number provided to the predetermined touch signaldetection electrode Rx1, is connected.

The detection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrodes Rx1 and Rx6 includes the noise information as wellas the information about the amount of change in capacitance made by thetouch of the object.

In contrast, the detection signal outputted from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrodes RX0 and RX2 used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes includes only the noiseinformation while including almost no information about the amount ofchange in capacitance made by the touch of the object.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain only the value of the amount ofchange in pure mutual capacitance by subtracting the signal valueoutputted from the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodeused as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrode from the signalvalue outputted from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode.

In particular, in the case of FIG. 41, a sum of areas of the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes may be almost equal to a sum ofareas of the predetermined touch signal detection electrodes.

Because a magnitude of the detected signal is proportional to an area ofthe electrode, the above-mentioned configuration is to allow a magnitudeof the LGM disturbance signal detected from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode and a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode to beequal to each other maximally, thereby completely removing the LGMdisturbance signal during the process of removing the LGM disturbancesignal.

Meanwhile, in the case of FIG. 41, in order to allow the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 and Rx2 used as theLGM disturbance signal detection electrodes to include almost noinformation about the amount of change in capacitance made by the touchof the object, any driving electrode or any touch signal detectionelectrode (e.g., RX1) disposed between the first driving electrode Tx1and the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodes Rx0 andRx2 used as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes may be setto be grounded (GND).

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 41 may beequally/similarly applied to FIG. 42. However, the touch signaldetection electrodes RX0, which are disposed at the left and right sidesbased on the first driving electrode TX0 in the first region, and thetouch signal detection electrodes RX1, which are disposed at the leftand right sides based on the second driving electrode TX1, may bedisposed to be different from one another. The touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0 and RX1, which are identical to the touch signaldetection electrodes RX0 and RX1 disposed in the first region, may bedisposed in the second region adjacent to the first region in the columndirection. That is, the touch signal detection electrodes RX0, which aredisposed at the left and right sides based on the first drivingelectrode TX2 in the second region, and the touch signal detectionelectrodes RX0, which are disposed at the left and right sides based onthe first driving electrode TX0 in the first region, may be connectedwith one trace. The touch signal detection electrodes RX1, which aredisposed at the left and right sides based on the second drivingelectrode TX3 in the second region, and the touch signal detectionelectrodes RX1, which are disposed at the left and right sides based onthe second driving electrode TX1 in the first region, may be connectedwith one trace.

Referring to FIG. 42, when the driving signal is applied to the firstdriving electrode Tx1, Rx1 (hatched) disposed to be adjacent to thefirst driving electrode Tx1 may be used as the predetermined touchsignal detection electrode that forms the mutual capacitance Cm with thefirst driving electrode Tx1, and Rx0 (reversely hatched) disposed to bespaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1 at a predetermineddistance may be defined as the other predetermined touch signaldetection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signal detectionelectrode that does not form the mutual capacitance Cm with the firstdriving electrode Tx1.

Specifically, in FIG. 42, the other predetermined touch signal detectionelectrode Rx0 used as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrode isspaced apart from the first driving electrode Tx1 at a predetermineddistance, thereby satisfying the condition in which the mutualcapacitance Cm need not be formed and the other predetermined touchsignal detection electrode Rx0 is connected to the predetermined touchsignal detection electrode Rx1 with the different channels. In thiscase, the connection with the different channels means that the channelhaving an electrode number, which is not coincident with an electrodenumber provided to the predetermined touch signal detection electrodeRx1, is connected.

The detection signal outputted from the predetermined touch signaldetection electrode Rx1 includes the noise information as well as theinformation about the amount of change in capacitance made by the touchof the object.

In contrast, the detection signal outputted from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrode RX0 used as the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode includes only the noise information while includingalmost no information about the amount of change in capacitance made bythe touch of the object.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain only the value of the amount ofchange in pure mutual capacitance by subtracting the signal valueoutputted from the other predetermined touch signal detection electrodeused as the LGM disturbance signal detection electrode from the signalvalue outputted from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode.

In particular, in the case of FIG. 42, a sum of areas of the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrodes used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes may be almost equal to a sum ofareas of the predetermined touch signal detection electrodes.

Because a magnitude of the detected signal is proportional to an area ofthe electrode, the above-mentioned configuration is to allow a magnitudeof the LGM disturbance signal detected from the other predeterminedtouch signal detection electrode used as the LGM disturbance signaldetection electrode and a magnitude of the LGM disturbance signaldetected from the predetermined touch signal detection electrode to beequal to each other maximally, thereby completely removing the LGMdisturbance signal during the process of removing the LGM disturbancesignal.

Meanwhile, in the case of FIG. 42, in order to allow the otherpredetermined touch signal detection electrode Rx0 used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode to include almost no informationabout the amount of change in capacitance made by the touch of theobject, any driving electrode or any touch signal detection electrode(e.g., RX1) disposed between the first driving electrode Tx1 and theother predetermined touch signal detection electrode Rx0 used as the LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode may be set to be grounded (GND).

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 38 may beequally/similarly applied to FIG. 43. However, in FIG. 38, theelectrodes, which have the same number as the RX electrodes RX1 and RX6disposed in the column B3 and the column B4 based on any drivingelectrode TX1, are disposed in the same order (RX1, RX6) in the columnB3 and the column B4 based on the driving electrode TX5 in the next row.However, in FIG. 43, the electrodes, which have the same number as theRX electrodes RX1 and RX6 disposed in the first order in the column B3and the column B4 based on any driving electrode TX1, may be disposed inthe order (RX6, RX1) opposite to the first order based on the drivingelectrode TX5 in the next row. That is, the arrangement is made likeRX1-RX6-RX1-RX6 in FIG. 38, but the arrangement is made likeRX1-RX6-RX6-RX1 in FIG. 43.

In other words, the touch signal detection electrode (RX1 in the columnB4), which is disposed on the first line so as to correspond to thedriving electrode (TX1 in the column A2) in the first row, and the touchsignal detection electrode (RX1 in the column B4), which is disposed onthe second line so as to correspond to the driving electrode (TX3 in thecolumn A2) in the second row, may be connected with one trace.

Likewise, the touch signal detection electrode (RX6 in the column B4),which is disposed on the second line so as to correspond to the drivingelectrode (TX1 in the column A2) in the first row, and the touch signaldetection electrode (RX6 in the column B4), which is disposed on thefirst line so as to correspond to the driving electrode (TX3 in thecolumn A2) in the second row, may be connected with one trace.

That is, the second electrodes disposed to be symmetrical based on therow direction may be connected with one trace.

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 39 may beequally/similarly applied to FIG. 44. However, in FIG. 39, theelectrodes, which have the same number as the RX electrodes RX1 and RX6disposed in the column B3 and the column B4 based on any drivingelectrode TX1, are disposed in the same order (RX1, RX6) in the columnB3 and the column B4 based on the driving electrode TX3 in the next row.However, in FIG. 44, the electrodes, which have the same number as theRX electrodes RX1 and RX6 disposed in the first order in the column B3and the column B4 based on any driving electrode TX1, may be disposed inthe order (RX6, RX1) opposite to the first order based on the drivingelectrode TX3 in the next row. That is, the arrangement is made likeRX1-RX6-RX1-RX6 in FIG. 39, but the arrangement is made likeRX1-RX6-RX6-RX1 in FIG. 44.

In other words, the touch signal detection electrode (RX1 in the columnB4), which is disposed on the first line so as to correspond to thedriving electrode (TX1 in the column A2) in the first row, and the touchsignal detection electrode (RX1 in the column B4), which is disposed onthe second line so as to correspond to the driving electrode (TX3 in thecolumn A2) in the second row, may be connected with one trace.

Likewise, the touch signal detection electrode (RX6 in the column B4),which is disposed on the second line so as to correspond to the drivingelectrode (TX1 in the column A2) in the first row, and the touch signaldetection electrode (RX6 in the column B4), which is disposed on thefirst line so as to correspond to the driving electrode (TX3 in thecolumn A2) in the second row, may be connected with one trace.

That is, the second electrodes disposed to be symmetrical based on therow direction may be connected with one trace.

FIG. 45A is a view illustrating an exemplary embodiment in which a sizeof the RX electrode illustrated in FIG. 44 is modified, and FIG. 45B isa view illustrating the trace for connecting some of the electrodes andthe corresponding electrodes in FIG. 45A.

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 44 may beequally/similarly applied to FIGS. 45A to 45B. However, in comparisonwith FIG. 44 in which the column B1 is disposed like RX0-RX7-RX7-RX0,the column B1 may be disposed like RX0-RX31-RX0 in FIGS. 45A to 45B.That is, one RX31, which corresponds to two RX7 in FIG. 44, is disposedin FIGS. 45A to 45B. In this case, RX0 and RX31 are disposed at one sidebased on the driving electrode TX0 in the column A1, and RX31 and RX0are disposed at one side based on the driving electrode TX2 in the nextrow with respect to the column A1.

FIGS. 45A to 45B illustrates that a length of the touch signal detectionelectrode is equal to a length of the driving electrode, and an area ofthe touch signal detection electrode is half an area of the drivingelectrode, but the scope of the present invention is not limitedthereto.

FIGS. 45A to 45B illustrates that the touch signal detection electrodeand the driving electrode are disposed so as not to be parallel to eachother. That is, a center point of the touch signal detection electrodeand a center point of the driving electrode are not positioned on thesame line and misaligned.

That is, referring to FIG. 45B, the touch signal detection electrodes(RX1 and RX30 in the column B4) may be disposed to be adjacent so as tocorrespond to the driving electrode (TX1 in the column A2) in the firstrow, and the touch signal detection electrodes (RX30 and RX1 in thecolumn B4) may be disposed to be adjacent so as to correspond to thedriving electrode (TX3 in the column A2) in the second row. Further,likewise, the touch signal detection electrodes (RX30 and RX1 in thecolumn B4) may be disposed to be adjacent so as to correspond to thedriving electrode (TX3 in the column A2) in the second row, and thetouch signal detection electrodes (RX1 and RX30 in the column B4) may bedisposed to be adjacent so as to correspond to the driving electrode(TX5 in the column A2) in the third row. That is, the respective drivingelectrodes and the respective touch signal detection electrodes disposedadjacent to the respective driving electrodes may form the mutualcapacitance. Further, RX1 in the column B4 corresponding to TX1 in thecolumn A2 and RX1 in the column B4 corresponding to TX3 in the column A2may be connected with one trace, and RX30 in the column B4 correspondingto TX3 in the column A2 and RX30 in the column B4 corresponding to TX5in the column A2 may be connected with one trace.

However, this feature may be equally/similarly applied between thecolumn A2 and the column B3 as well as between the column A2 and thecolumn B4, and this feature may be equally/similarly applied between allcolumns A and all columns B included in the touch sensor as well asbetween the column A1 and the column B1 and between the column A1 andthe column B2.

FIG. 46 illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the electrodeconnection method is partially modified based on FIGS. 45A to 45B.

The principle described above with reference to FIGS. 45A to 45B may beequally/similarly applied to FIG. 46.

In the case of FIG. 46, the touch signal detection electrodes (RX1 andRX30 in the column B4) may be disposed to be adjacent so as tocorrespond to the driving electrode (TX1 in the column A2) in the firstrow, and the touch signal detection electrodes (RX30 and RX1 in thecolumn B4) may be disposed to be adjacent so as to correspond to thedriving electrode (TX3 in the column A2) in the second row. Further,likewise, the touch signal detection electrodes (RX30 and RX1 in thecolumn B4) may be disposed to be adjacent so as to correspond to thedriving electrode (TX3 in the column A2) in the second row, and thetouch signal detection electrodes (RX1 and RX30 in the column B4) may bedisposed to be adjacent so as to correspond to the driving electrode(TX5 in the column A2) in the third row.

The touch signal detection electrodes (RX1 and RX30 in the column B3)may be disposed to be adjacent so as to correspond to the drivingelectrode (TX1 in the column A2) in the first row, and the touch signaldetection electrodes (RX30 and RX1 in the column B3) may be disposed tobe adjacent so as to correspond to the driving electrode (TX3 in thecolumn A2) in the second row. Further, likewise, the touch signaldetection electrodes (RX30 and RX1 in the column B3) may be disposed tobe adjacent so as to correspond to the driving electrode (TX3 in thecolumn A2) in the second row, and the touch signal detection electrodes(RX1 and RX30 in the column B3) may be disposed to be adjacent so as tocorrespond to the driving electrode (TX5 in the column A2) in the thirdrow. That is, the respective driving electrodes and the respective touchsignal detection electrodes disposed adjacent to the respective drivingelectrodes may form the mutual capacitance.

It can be seen that the number {circle around (3)} trace, which connectsRX1 and RX1 in the column B3, also connects RX1 and RX1 in the columnB4, and the number {circle around (4)} trace, which connects RX30 andRX30 in the column B3, also connects RX30 and RX30 in the column B4.

Referring to FIG. 45B, it can be seen that the RX electrodes areconnected by the eight traces.

That is, it can be seen that the number {circle around (1)} trace forconnecting RX0 and RX0 and the number {circle around (2)} trace forconnecting RX31 and RX31 are disposed in the column B1, the number{circle around (3)} trace and the number {circle around (4)} trace aredisposed in the column B2, the number 5 trace and the number 6 race aredisposed in the column B3, and the number 7 trace and the number 8 traceare disposed in the column B4, likewise.

In comparison with this, in the case of FIG. 46, it can be seen that thenumber {circle around (1)} trace, which connects RX0 and RX0 in thecolumn B1, also connects RX0 and RX0 in the column B2, and the number{circle around (2)} trace, which connects RX31 and RX31 in the columnB1, also connects RX31 and RX31 in the column B2. Further, likewise, itcan be seen that a number {circle around (3)} trace, which connects RX1and RX1 in the column B3, also connects RX1 and RX1 in the column B4,and a number {circle around (4)} trace, which connects RX30 and RX30 inthe column B3, also connects RX30 and RX30 in the column B4.

That is, according to FIG. 46, it can be seen that the RX electrodes,which constitute the same channel, are connected with one trace in thehorizontal direction as well as the vertical direction, such that thenumber of traces for connecting the RX electrodes is reduced by half incomparison with FIG. 45B.

The trace for connecting the RX electrodes disposed in the first columnis bypassed upward from the electrodes that constitute the touch sensor,such that the RX electrodes disposed in the first column may beconnected to the identical RX electrodes disposed in the second columnby using the trace. In particular, the trace may be bypassed upward (thedotted line region) from the TX electrodes and the RX electrodesdisposed in the first row of the touch sensor. As a result, a part ofthe trace may be disposed above the TX electrodes and the RX electrodesdisposed in the first row.

When a part of the trace is disposed above the RX electrodes, thecorresponding trace may enter an upper portion of a bezel part (notillustrated) of the touch input device. The bezel part (not illustrated)refers to an outer peripheral rim region of a region in which an imageof the touch input device is displayed. The bezel part may include anupper portion, a lower portion, a left portion, and a right portionbased on the region in which the image of the touch input device isdisplayed. The trace disposed above the electrode may be disposed on theupper portion of the bezel part.

The trace disposed above the RX electrodes is configured as a horizontaltrace, and the horizontal trace generally causes a problem withvisibility, which makes it difficult to manufacture a product. However,as illustrated in FIG. 46, in a case in which only a space having asmall size of about 50 μm is allocated to the horizontal trace, thehorizontal trace does not affect the visibility. In particular, in thecase in which the horizontal trace is disposed on the upper portion ofthe bezel part, the visibility is not influenced by the horizontaltrace, and the number of traces may be reduced.

FIG. 46 illustrates that a part of the number {circle around (1)} traceis disposed at the left side of the electrodes in the column B1 and theright side of the electrodes in the column B2. However, a part of thenumber {circle around (2)} trace may be disposed at the right side ofthe electrodes in the column B1 and the left side of the electrodes inthe column B2. As a result, the number {circle around (1)} trace isdisposed outside the number {circle around (2)} trace. Thisconfiguration may be equally/similarly applied to the number {circlearound (3)} trace and the number {circle around (4)} trace.

FIG. 47 illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the electrodeconnection method is partially modified based on FIG. 45.

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 45 may beequally/similarly applied to FIG. 47.

It may be understood that while FIG. 46 illustrates the connection ofthe RX electrodes that constitute the same channel, FIG. 47 illustratesthat the TX electrodes, which constitute the same channel, are connectedwith the horizontal trace to reduce the number of traces.

As illustrated in FIG. 47, when the driving electrodes TX0, whichconstitute the same channel, are connected with one trace, the number oftraces is decreased one by one for each column in which TX0 is disposed.

In particular, the driving electrodes TX0, which constitute the samechannel among the driving electrodes disposed in the first row of thetouch sensor, are connected with one trace, such that the trace may bedisposed at an upper side of the touch sensor, as illustrated in FIG.47. In other words, the electrodes TX0, which constitute the samechannel in the first row, may be connected with one trace at the upperside thereof.

According to FIG. 47, only one trace for connecting any TX electrodes(e.g., TX0) constituting the same channel may be disposed, and othertraces for connecting other TX electrodes (e.g., TX1) constituting thesame channel cannot be disposed.

FIG. 47 illustrates that the electrodes TX0 are connected with onetrace, but according to another exemplary embodiment, one trace mayconnect the electrodes TX1.

When the trace is disposed on the upper portion of the first row, thecorresponding trace may enter an upper portion of a bezel part (notillustrated) of the touch input device. The bezel part (not illustrated)refers to an outer peripheral rim region of a region in which an imageof the touch input device is displayed. The bezel part may include anupper portion, a lower portion, a left portion, and a right portionbased on the region in which the image of the touch input device isdisplayed. The trace disposed above the electrode may be disposed on theupper portion of the bezel part.

The corresponding trace is configured as a horizontal trace, and thehorizontal trace generally causes a problem with visibility, which makesit difficult to manufacture a product. However, as illustrated in FIG.47, in a case in which only a space having a small size of about 50 μmis allocated to the horizontal trace, the horizontal trace does notaffect the visibility. In particular, in the case in which thehorizontal trace is disposed on the upper portion of the bezel part, thevisibility is not influenced by the horizontal trace, and the number oftraces may be reduced.

FIG. 48 illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which the electrodeconnection method is partially modified based on FIG. 45.

The principle described above with reference to FIG. 45 may beequally/similarly applied to FIG. 48.

It may be understood that FIG. 48 illustrates that the TX electrodes,which constitute the same channel as illustrated in FIG. 47, areconnected with the horizontal trace, such that the number of traces isreduced. However, all of the TX electrodes TX0, which constitute the Achannel, are not connected with one trace, and some of the electrodesTX0, which constitute the A channel, may be connected with one trace. Inaddition, some of the TX electrodes TX1, which constitute the B channeldifferent from the A channel, may be connected by using one trace.

It can be seen that while FIG. 47 illustrates that all of the identicalelectrodes TX0 are connected with one trace such that the number oftraces is reduced by 7 (−7), FIG. 48 illustrates that only some of theidentical electrodes TX0 are connected with one trace such that thenumber of traces is reduced by 5 (−5).

In comparison with FIG. 47, the feature illustrated in FIG. 48 has anadvantage of reducing the number of trances while relatively reducingresistance of the electrode pattern. For example, in the case of FIG.47, a length of one trace is increased because all of the electrodes TX0are connected with one trace. As such, during the process of connectingTX0 in the column A1 and TX0 disposed in the column A15, a resistancevalue of TX0 disposed in the column A15 becomes significantly greaterthan R1 when R1 is a resistance value of TX0 in column A1. This iscaused because a length between the first TX0 and the last TX0 isincreased. In comparison with this, in the case of FIG. 48, TX0 in thecolumn A1 and TX0 in the column A3 are connected with one trace, and alength of the corresponding trace is shorter than the length in FIG. 47,such that the resistance value of TX0 in the column A3 is smaller thanthe resistance value in FIG. 47.

Consequently, there is an advantage of relatively reducing resistance ofthe electrode pattern even though an effect of reducing the number oftraces relatively deteriorates in comparison with FIG. 47.

In particular, some of the driving electrodes TX0, which constitute thesame channel among the driving electrodes disposed in the first row ofthe touch sensor, are connected with one trace, such that the trace maybe disposed at the upper side of the touch sensor, as illustrated inFIG. 47. In other words, some of the electrodes TX0, which constitutethe same channel in the first row, may be connected with one trace atthe upper side thereof.

Some of the electrodes TX0 are connected with one A trace, some of theelectrodes TX1 are connected with one B trace, and then some of theelectrodes TX0 are connected with another A trace, such that the drivingelectrodes disposed in the first row are connected.

FIG. 48 illustrates that the two TX electrodes are connected with onetrace, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

When the trace is disposed on the upper portion of the first row, thecorresponding trace may enter an upper portion of a bezel part (notillustrated) of the touch input device.

The bezel part (not illustrated) refers to an outer peripheral rimregion of a region in which an image of the touch input device isdisplayed. The bezel part may include an upper portion, a lower portion,a left portion, and a right portion based on the region in which theimage of the touch input device is displayed. The trace disposed abovethe electrode may be disposed on the upper portion of the bezel part.

The corresponding trace is configured as a horizontal trace, and thehorizontal trace generally causes a problem with visibility, which makesit difficult to manufacture a product. However, as illustrated in FIG.48, in a case in which only a space having a small size of about 50 μmis allocated to the horizontal trace, the horizontal trace does notaffect the visibility. In particular, in the case in which thehorizontal trace is disposed on the upper portion of the bezel part, thevisibility is not influenced by the horizontal trace, and the number oftraces may be reduced.

The examples described above with reference to FIGS. 38 to 48 may be notonly applied to the exemplified specific electrode or the exemplifiedspecific electrode column, but also applied equally/similarly to all ofthe electrodes and all of the electrode columns in the touch sensorpanel.

The features, structures, effects, and the like described above in theexemplary embodiments are included in one exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, but the present invention is not necessarily limitedto one exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures,effects, and the like described in the respective exemplary embodimentsmay be combined or modified and then carried out by those skilled in theart as other exemplary embodiments. It should be interpreted that thecombination and modification are included in the scope of the presentinvention.

The exemplary embodiments have been described above, but the exemplaryembodiments are just illustrative and not intended to limit the presentinvention. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications and alterations, which are not described above,may be made without departing from the intrinsic features of the presentinvention. For example, the respective constituent elements specificallydescribed in the exemplary embodiments may be modified and then carriedout. Further, it should be interpreted that the differences related tothe modifications and alterations are included in the scope of thepresent invention defined by the appended claims.

1. A touch input device having a touch surface, the touch input devicecomprising: a touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes; a driveunit configured to apply a driving signal to at least some of theplurality of electrodes of the touch sensor; a touch signal detectionunit configured to detect a touch-position-related signal related to atouch position of an object inputted to the touch surface from at leastsome of the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor; and an LGMdisturbance signal detection unit configured to detect anLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal related to an LGM disturbancesignal generated from the touch surface from at least some of theplurality of electrodes of the touch sensor.
 2. The touch input deviceof claim 1, wherein the touch-position-related signal comprisesinformation about the amount of change in mutual capacitance made by theobject between at least some of the plurality of electrodes, wherein theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal comprises information aboutcapacitance that reduces the amount of change in mutual capacitancegenerated by coupling between the object and at least some of theplurality of electrodes.
 3. The touch input device of claim 2, whereinthe touch-position-related signal comprises information aboutcapacitance that reduces the amount of change in mutual capacitancegenerated by coupling between the object and at least some of theplurality of electrodes, wherein the LGM-disturbance-signal-relatedsignal does not comprise information about the amount of change inmutual capacitance between at least some of the plurality of electrodes.4. (canceled)
 5. The touch input device of claim 1, further comprising:a control unit configured to inhibit the LGM-disturbance-signal-relatedsignal from the touch-position-related signal, wherein the touch signaldetection unit converts the touch-position-related signal into a digitalsignal and outputs the digital signal, wherein the LGM disturbancesignal detection unit converts the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signalinto a digital signal and outputs the digital signal, and wherein thecontrol unit inhibits the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal, whichis converted into the digital signal, from the touch-position-relatedsignal, which is converted into the digital signal.
 6. (canceled)
 7. Thetouch input device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor comprises aplurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes, the touch signal detection unit detects thetouch-position-related signal related to the touch position of theobject inputted to the touch surface from at least one touch signaldetection electrode, among the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes, which forms mutual capacitance with at least one of theplurality of driving electrodes, and the LGM disturbance signaldetection unit detects the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from atleast another touch signal detection electrode, among the plurality oftouch signal detection electrodes, which does not form mutualcapacitance with at least one driving electrode.
 8. The touch inputdevice of claim 7, wherein the touch-position-related signal comprisesinformation about capacitance that reduces the mutual capacitancegenerated by at least one of coupling between the object and at leastone driving electrode and coupling between the object and at least onetouch signal detection electrode, and the LGM-disturbance-signal-relatedsignal comprises information about capacitance that reduces the mutualcapacitance generated by at least one of coupling between the object andat least one driving electrode and coupling between the object and atleast another touch signal detection electrode.
 9. The touch inputdevice of claim 7, wherein at least one touch signal detection electrodeis disposed to be adjacent to at least one driving electrode, wherein atleast another touch signal detection electrode is disposed to be spacedapart from at least one driving electrode at a predetermined distanceand connected to a channel different from a channel to which at leastone touch signal detection electrode is connected, and wherein at leastone of the driving electrodes disposed between at least one touch signaldetection electrode and at least another touch signal detectionelectrode is set to be grounded, or at least one touch signal detectionelectrode is set to be grounded.
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. Thetouch input device of claim 7, wherein a sum of an area of at leastanother touch signal detection electrode is equal to a sum of an area ofat least one touch signal detection electrode.
 13. The touch inputdevice of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality ofdriving electrodes, a plurality of touch signal detection electrodes,and a plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes, thetouch signal detection unit detects the touch-position-related signalrelated to the touch position of the object inputted to the touchsurface from at least one touch signal detection electrode, among theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes, which forms mutualcapacitance with at least one of the plurality of driving electrodes,and the LGM disturbance signal detection unit detects theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from at least one LGM disturbancesignal detection electrode, among the plurality of LGM disturbancesignal detection electrodes, which does not form mutual capacitance withat least one driving electrode.
 14. The touch input device of claim 13,wherein the touch-position-related signal comprises information aboutcapacitance that reduces the mutual capacitance generated by at leastone of coupling between the object and at least one driving electrodeand coupling between the object and at least one touch signal detectionelectrode, and the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal comprisesinformation about capacitance that reduces the mutual capacitancegenerated by at least one of coupling between the object and at leastone driving electrode and coupling between the object and at least oneLGM disturbance signal detection electrode.
 15. The touch input deviceof claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes is disposed in each of the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes, and wherein a center of each of theplurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes and a center ofeach of the plurality of touch signal detection electrodes arecoincident. 16 (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. The touch input device ofclaim 15, wherein a sum of areas of the plurality of LGM disturbancesignal detection electrodes is equal to a sum of areas of the pluralityof touch signal detection electrodes.
 19. The touch input device ofclaim 13, wherein at least one touch signal detection electrode isdisposed between at least one driving electrode and at least one LGMdisturbance signal detection electrode, and at least one touch signaldetection electrode is set to be grounded.
 20. (canceled)
 21. The touchinput device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes and the plurality of LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes are disposed on a layer different from a layer onwhich the plurality of driving electrodes is disposed, and a firstregion in which the plurality of driving electrodes overlaps theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes is larger than a secondregion in which the plurality of driving electrodes overlaps theplurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes.
 22. The touchinput device of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of LGMdisturbance signal detection electrodes is disposed in each of theplurality of touch signal detection electrodes, and wherein a center ofeach of the plurality of LGM disturbance signal detection electrodes anda center of each of the plurality of touch signal detection electrodesare coincident.
 23. (canceled)
 24. The touch input device of claim 21,wherein a sum of areas of the plurality of LGM disturbance signaldetection electrodes is equal to a sum of areas of the plurality oftouch signal detection electrodes, and wherein a width of the firstregion is larger than a width of the second region.
 25. (canceled) 26.The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor comprises aplurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of touch signaldetection electrodes, the touch signal detection unit detects thetouch-position-related signal related to the touch position of theobject inputted to the touch surface from at least one touch signaldetection electrode, among the plurality of touch signal detectionelectrodes, which forms mutual capacitance with at least one of theplurality of driving electrodes, and the LGM disturbance signaldetection unit detects the LGM-disturbance-signal-related signal from atleast one touch signal detection electrode, among the plurality of touchsignal detection electrodes, which does not form mutual capacitance withat least another of the plurality of driving electrodes.
 27. The touchinput device of claim 26, wherein the touch-position-related signalcomprises information about capacitance that reduces the mutualcapacitance generated by at least one of coupling between the object andat least one driving electrode and coupling between the object and atleast one touch signal detection electrode, and theLGM-disturbance-signal-related signal comprises information aboutcapacitance that reduces the mutual capacitance generated by at leastone of coupling between the object and at least another drivingelectrode and coupling between the object and at least one touch signaldetection electrode. 28.-33. (canceled)
 34. A touch input device havinga touch surface, the touch input device comprising: a touch sensorcomprising a plurality of first electrode columns having a plurality offirst electrodes, and a plurality of second electrode columns having aplurality of second electrodes, wherein a second electrode column isdisposed at one side based on the first electrode column, which is anyone of the plurality of first electrode columns, and another secondelectrode column is disposed at the other side, wherein a secondelectrode comprised in the second electrode column and another secondelectrode comprised in another second electrode column constitute thesame channel based on any one first electrode comprised in the firstelectrode column, and wherein the first electrode constitutes the samechannel with some of the first electrodes disposed in the same row asthe first electrode. 35.-46. (canceled)
 47. A touch input device havinga touch surface, the touch input device comprising: a touch sensorcomprising a plurality of first electrode columns having a plurality offirst electrodes, and a plurality of second electrode columns having aplurality of second electrodes, wherein a second electrode column isdisposed at one side based on the first electrode column, which is anyone of the plurality of first electrode columns, and another secondelectrode column is disposed at the other side, wherein a secondelectrode comprised in one second electrode column and another secondelectrode comprised in another second electrode column constitute thesame channel based on any one first electrode comprised in the firstelectrode column, wherein a second-1 electrode and a second-2 electrodecomprised in the second electrode column are disposed to be adjacent toone side so as to correspond to the first electrode comprised in thefirst electrode column, wherein a second-3 electrode and a second-4electrode comprised in the second electrode column are disposed to beadjacent to one side so as to correspond to another first electrodecomprised in the first electrode column, and wherein the second-1electrode and the second-3 electrode are connected with one secondtrace, and the second-2 electrode and the second-4 electrode areconnected with another second trace.